A man who was a suspect in multiple rapes in Spokane and was convicted of one in the 1980s could soon be released from McNeil Island and is slated to move into an adult family home in Federal Way.
According to state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Media Relations Manager Cynthia Shipley, the potential release of Kevin Coe from DSHS’s Special Commitment Center, McNeil Island, is pending litigation before the Spokane County Superior Court, with a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 2, so DSHS cannot comment further at this time. McNeil Island is about 10 miles southwest of Tacoma.
According to DSHS, the Special Commitment Center programs provide specialized mental health treatment for civilly committed sex offenders who have completed their prison sentences.
Who is Kevin Coe?
According to the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), from 1978 to 1981, a rapist who committed as many as 37 assaults in the South Hill neighborhood of Spokane terrified the city. According to the DPLA, in 1981, Kevin Coe was arrested in connection to several of the rapes, and was ultimately convicted of four counts of rape. He was given the nickname of the “South Hill rapist,” according to DPLA.
In 1984, the Washington Supreme Court later overturned the convictions because police hypnotized some of the victims in hopes they would remember more details. However, according to the DPLA, Coe was later convicted of one count of rape, which resulted in a 25-year prison sentence.
After serving his prison sentence, in 2008, a civil jury declared Coe to be a sexually violent predator, and he was sent to a DSHS Special Commitment Center at McNeil Island for sex offenders. Now, after 17 years, Coe could be released to an adult family home in Federal Way.
Statements from the mayor’s office
“According to DSHS, he will have a court hearing on Oct. 2 to determine whether he will be released from McNeil Island,” Federal Way Mayor’s Office Communications Manager Ben Miller said. “If released, Coe will reside at the Win Win Adult Family Home in Federal Way and be a registered sex offender.”
Miller said that Coe originally requested to be released to an adult family home in Spanaway, but due to his release being unconditional, Coe cannot be placed in the same home as those with conditional releases. Subsequently, Miller said Coe’s release location was changed to Federal Way.
Miller said that the city cannot notify residents if a sex offender is moving into Federal Way unless the offender is designated as a level three sex offender. Miller said if Coe is determined to be a level three sex offender, the city will send out a flyer to local residents alerting them that a sex offender will be living in their community.
Miller said he recommends that all residents sign up to receive alerts when sex offenders move in near them.
“We want to acknowledge community concerns regarding the placement of Kevin Coe. While we do not have a say in this matter, we understand the sensitivity surrounding it. Mr. Coe is a man in his mid-70s who is largely confined to a wheelchair,” Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell said. “While this does not eliminate the possibility of re-offense, we are confident that his presence in Federal Way does not pose a significant public safety risk to our residents.”
Ferrell said this situation is a reminder for everyone to remain aware of their surroundings and to continue practicing personal safety in their daily lives. Ferrell said that staying informed, looking out for one another, reporting suspicious activity, and having conversations with family members are key ways residents can all contribute to a safer and more vigilant community.
Another response
According to State Rep. Mark Schoesler (R-District 9), whose district includes the Spokane area, he and several other legislators received an email from DSHS that stated that the McNeil Island Social Commitment Center forensic evaluator, as well as the state’s expert, concluded to a reasonable degree of psychological certainty that Coe no longer meets civil commitment criteria as a sexually violent predator. The email continued, stating that the parties are in agreement that the case should be dismissed, so it is highly likely that it will be.
“Kevin Coe is one of the most dangerous and infamous criminals in our state’s history,” Schoesler said. “He was suspected of raping many women and girls as young as 14 before being arrested in 1981 and ultimately found guilty of first-degree rape. It’s unbelievable that the state would even consider releasing him.”
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