Few clues one year after Everett slaying

EVERETT — Julia Randolph’s young life was taken from her in a south Everett parking lot on Sept. 29, 2012.

A year later, the search for her killer continues. The case needs clues.

Snohomish County sheriff’s major crimes detective Brad Pince hopes additional witnesses will come forward. Pince wants to speak with anyone who may have known Randolph, who may have seen her in the days before she died, or who has heard people talk about the killing.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Pince said. “We have an unsolved homicide. She has family and friends who need to have some answers as to what happened and why.”

Investigators believe Randolph, 24, was killed between midnight and 7 a.m. Her body was found in the parking lot of the La Palmera Restaurant at the intersection of Highway 99 and Center Road, just southeast of Everett city limits. She died from blunt-force injuries to the head.

The sheriff’s office has declined to release further information about the circumstances of the killing to protect the ongoing investigation.

It’s unknown if Randolph knew the suspect, Pince said. He hasn’t ruled out anyone.

Detectives also compiled video surveillance footage from surrounding businesses around the time of Randolph’s death. The available footage was grainy but shows a white sedan near the crime scene between about 3 and 4 a.m. That footage is posted online at www.youtube.com/SnoCoSheriff.

The car is believed to be a mid-1990s Nissan Altima or something similar. It has black side mirrors and a sun roof. Police want to find the car and its driver.

“Our goal is to solve all of our homicides,” Pince said. “It is important to the public. It’s important to the family and to the friends. That’s why society has us do what we do.”

Randolph’s family has asked for privacy since her death. She spent much of her youth in Everett and attended local schools. Court records show she struggled as an adult.

An obituary for Randolph ran in The Herald last year. In it, she was described as a free spirit who liked animals and the outdoors. It said she was intelligent, kind and big-hearted, and that she always will be loved and missed.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Tips sought

Anyone with information about the Sept. 29, 2012, killing of Julia Randolph, 24, in the 1600 block of Center Road is asked to call detectives at 425-388-3845. Tips can be anonymous.

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