A 30-year-old Tukwila double-murder case is closer to being closed with last week’s arrest of a suspect in Oregon.
James B. Braman Jr., 56, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder Feb. 7 for the shooting deaths of Frank Hinkley, 45, and his girlfriend, Barbara Rosenfield, 42, at The Bear Cave.
Shortly after midnight on Dec. 3, 1975, two King County police officers drove past The Bear Cave, a popular topless dancing bar at 10440 East Marginal Way S., which was closed at the time.
They noticed a dark liquid flowing from beneath the back door of the building, which turned out to be blood.
After forcing their way into the building they found the two bodies on the floor. They had been shot with a .45 caliber pistol.
Officers believed it was an inside job as the doors were locked from the outside. No one was ever arrested in connection with the murders.
In 2003 the case was reopened by detectives because new evidence that came in implicating Braman as the killer.
Braman worked at the bar as a manager in 1975.
He apparently confessed to the killings to three people who wanted to remain nameless due to fears of retaliation.
One witness reportedly said Braman had confessed to the killings, allegedly saying he shot Hinkley because he was caught stealing money and Rosenfield was shot because she was a witness.
Another witness reportedly said Braman allegedly had asked to borrow his truck and his .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol the night of the killing.
Detectives were able to match shell casings and bullets provided by that witness with shell casings and bullets from the scene in 1975.
The gun has never been recovered.
Braman was arrested in Toledo, Ore.
Investigation in cold-case files has been increasing over the years with the advancement of technology.
When something changes, such as DNA links or fingerprints, detectives take a closer look that the file, said King County Deputy Sheriff Rodney Chinnick.
“Homicide cases don’t close until they’re solved,” Chinnick said. “They may go cold, but not forgotten.”
