Dorothy “Dottie” Silzel was killed 44 years ago in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police

Dorothy “Dottie” Silzel was killed 44 years ago in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police

Kent cold case murder suspect back in state after governor’s warrant | Update

Kenneth Kundert fought extradition from Arkansas after August arrest in 1980 killing of Dorothy Silzel

It took a governor’s warrant for extradition to finally get Kenneth Kundert out of Arkansas and returned to King County to face a first-degree murder charge in a 1980 Kent cold case.

Prosecutors charged Kundert, 65, in August for allegedly killing Dorothy “Dottie” Silzel 44 years ago at her Kent condo shortly after she ended her shift at a local pizza parlor. Kent detectives, the FBI and the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kundert Aug. 20 at his home in Clinton, Arkansas.

Kundert fought extradition to bring him to King County.

“The defendant in this case is not waiving extradition, which makes a longer time frame to get him back,” said Casey McNerthney, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson, in an Oct. 30 email. “In September, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sent a request to Gov. (Jay) Inslee’s office for a governor’s warrant for extradition, which is needed to get him to King County. Prosecutors asked for it to be expedited.”

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently signed the warrant sent by Inslee.

If Kundert hadn’t fought extradition, he would have been transferred within a few weeks after his August arrest, McNerthney said.

Kundert had been in custody in the Van Buren Correctional Facility in Clinton with bail set at $3 million. According to jail records, Kundert was released the morning of Oct. 30 in Arkansas and booked the night of Oct. 30 into the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle.

Kundert is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, McNerthney said.

Kent detectives used DNA, genealogy comparisons and a discarded cigarette to find Kundert and arrest him for investigation for the February 1980 strangulation of Silzel, 30, found dead in her condo in the 25400 block of 106th Avenue SE.

In March, Kent detectives in the Special Investigations Unit traveled to Clinton, Arkansas to conduct surveillance of Kundert, according to police. They were assisted by the FBI, the Arkansas 20th Judicial Drug Task Force and the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.

During the operation, they were able to obtain a discarded cigarette reportedly belonging to Kenneth Kundert. Kent Detective Tim Ford confirmed at an Aug. 28 press conference at Kent City Hall about the cold case arrest that Kundert reportedly had discarded the cigarette outside of a Walmart store. The State Patrol Crime Lab determined the DNA on that cigarette reportedly matched DNA found on a bathrobe at the 1980 murder scene and belonged to what had been referred to as Individual A, which charging papers claim belonged to Kundert.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Kenneth Kundert. COURTESY PHOTO,

Kenneth Kundert. COURTESY PHOTO,

More in News

Kent police investigate fatal two-vehicle collision

The collision killed a woman and left a 45-year-old Tacoma driver, suspected of intoxication at the time of the crash, hospitalized.

Competing for the 8th Congressional District: Carmen Goers, left, and Kim Schrier. COURTESY PHOTOS
Adam Smith and Kim Schrier will retain Congress seats | Election 2024

Smith represents the 9th Congressional District and Schrier represents the 8th Congressional District.

Courtesy of Democratic Caucus
Pictured left to right: Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D), Rep. David Hackney, and Rep. Steve Bergquist
Democratic incumbents in lead for 11th Legislative District

Bob Hasegawa, David Hackney and Steve Bergquist have strong leads, with Hasegawa and Hackney running unopposed.

Debra Entenman and Kyle Lyebyedyev. File photos
Entenman and Stearns lead in 47th District | Election 2024

The district includes Kent, Covington and Auburn.

File photo
Kent School District levy is failing at the polls | Election 2024

Early election results show voters rejecting the proposed Capital Projects and Technology Levy.

Larry Best, a customer coordinator for quality assurance who has worked at Boeing for 38 years, stands outside of Angel of the Winds Arena with a “vote no” sign on Monday in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists approve contract, ending 52-day strike

After voting no twice, 59% of union members approved the latest contract.

Photos from the United States Attorney's Office Western District of Washington press release.
Kent man arrested in connection to violent drug trafficking gang investigation

Law enforcement seized more than 20 kilograms of fentanyl, 60 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash.

Courtesy Photo, King County
Son accused of fatally shooting mother’s boyfriend in Kent back in jail

Dondre Butler has 3 violations in 13 months of electronic home detention after charged with murder in 2022

t
Kent Police targeted street patrols result in arrest of two felons

One driver spotted in a vehicle with no plates; another driver reportedly in a stolen vehicle

t
Kent cold case murder suspect back in state after governor’s warrant | Update

Kenneth Kundert fought extradition from Arkansas after August arrest in 1980 killing of Dorothy Silzel

t
City of Kent eyes November opening for Reith Road roundabouts

Two more roundabouts will bring total in city to six; three more in future plans