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Just hearing the name Kevin Coe brings back terrible memories to the citizens of Washington state, but in particular to his many victims. Coe is the infamous 'South Hill Rapist' from Spokane, who between 1978 and 1981, raped at least forty-three women, often violently enough to cause them serious injury. Coe's mother was also convicted of trying to have the judge killed, for which she served prison time herself.
Through a series of legal maneurverings and appeals, one of them based on the fact that police had hypnotized some of the witnesses, Coe was convicted on only a few counts. Through more appeals, he managed at one time or another to have some of his convictions reversed.
But there was one appeal Coe could never win, and that was the case of Julie Harmia. Her solid identification of Coe withstood his barrage of appeals throughout the years. She never wavered in her testimony or backed down from a Coe lawyer. Harmia was seventeen when Coe jumped out from behind a parked car and dragged her into a nearby lot. He punched her in the head, choked her, and shoved his gloved fist into her mouth during the rape to keep her from screaming. She bit him through the glove and some of his blood dropped onto her clothing. This helped convict Coe at his trial.
One of Harmia's most vivid memories was just after the police arrested Coe in 1981. She was brought down to the police station for a lineup. When she entered the room with the one-way mirror, she was shocked to see the room was packed wall-to-wall with Coe's victims - all women waiting for their chance to step up to the glass and try to identify him as their attacker. A few still bore the signs of Coe's violent cruelty.
Nearly thirty years later, Julie Harmia has again volunteered to step forward and relive that day - by testifying at Coe's civil commitment hearing this month in Spokane. Since Coe has finished his entire sentence, he could conceivably walk free if the commitment trial fails.
Coe, however, should not begin shopping for street clothes just yet.
Kevin Coe did every single day of his twenty-five year sentence, and more. He was to be released in 2006. But instead of a release after his sentence ended, he got a piece of paper from the state's Attorney General.
The AG had filed to have Coe declared a 'violent sexual predator'. In Washington state, this means an indefinite commitment to 'Sex Prison', otherwise known as the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. Here the state warehouses their most heinous rapists and child molesters. Most will die there. Only four have been released in all the time the SCC has been in business, and two of those only to halfway houses just outside the main fences. It has about 245 'residents', and as far as security, it's the closest thing to Alcatraz. Nearly two hundred cameras watch everything and it is surrounded by double fences with razor wire and pressure sensors.
Sometimes raccoons climb up and set off the pressure sensors, but so far none of the residents have escaped - and they are not likely to escape. Even if someone managed to get over the wire, it's a three-mile swim to the mainland across the cold waters of Puget Sound.
Coe has been housed there for more than two years awaiting his commitment trial.
The case is the biggest in Washington since the trial of the Green River Killer. Almost 700 people have filled out detailed questionaires for the jury pool. Coe's lawyer tried to have the case moved to another county, but failed. In all likelihood it's going to be a short trial and then a quick trip back to the SCC for Mr Coe.
Which is exactly where the South Hill Rapist belongs.
Just ask Julie.
