Rita Marie Bartschot

Case Details

Photo URLs:

PhotoPhoto

This person was missing Missing Since 08/24/1990

Missing Since:
Missing Since 08/24/1990
Missing From:
Missing From Seattle, Washington
Classification:
Classification Endangered Missing
Gender:
Female
Race:
Race White
Date of Birth:
Date of Birth 11/25/1949 (75)
Age:
Age 40 years old
Height and Weight:
Height and Weight 5’3, 100 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description:
Clothing/Jewelry Description A gold St. Rose Academy 1967 class ring with a red stone.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Bartschot wears eyeglasses.
Details of Disappearance:
In August 1990, Susan Bartschot vanished. She was last seen working in her deceased mother’s Seattle yard. A neighbor later discovered her house with the TV on, a neglected cat, and moldy coffee – signs something was wrong.

Drew Thompson, a convicted thief, was soon caught using Bartschot’s debit card. He’d taken $3,200. Police found another of her cards at his place, and her car was discovered near the University of Washington. Blood in the car matched Bartschot’s DNA profile, while Thompson’s was excluded. Hairs similar to Thompson’s were also found. He admitted to stealing and driving the car.

Thompson was convicted of stealing Bartschot’s money. Later, two of his prison mates testified that he confessed to killing her and hiding the body. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 32 years in prison. Although he claims innocence, he won’t be eligible for parole until 2022. The circumstances strongly suggest Bartschot was murdered. At the time of her disappearance, she was a chemistry professor in Pasco, Washington.

Agency:
Puyallup Police Department 253-435-3653
Source Links:
READ Also  Rodney L. Frazier