DNA Tests Lead to Arrest in 1976 Murder of an Augusta, ME Woman

Detectives from the Maine State Police, Augusta police and Seattle police this week arrested a 63-year old fugitive in Seattle, Washington for the 1970's murder of 70-year-old Blanche Kimball. Gary Sanford Raub is charged with the death of 70-year-old Blanche Kimball, whose body was found inside her State Street, Augusta home back in June of 1976.

Kimball died from multiple stab wounds and her body was found by Augusta police after neighbors called to say she had not been seen for several days. Police said Raub knew Kimball and at one time lived at her home.

DNA taken recently during a mock chewing-gum survey led police to Raub, who had served time in a Washington state prison for third-degree rape in Clallam County in 1982. He was arrested Monday without incident. After extradiction hearings in Washington, he will be brought to Maine. This is the oldest unsolved killing in Maine in which an arrest has been made.