Sally Swisher Heet the press secretary for U.S. Sen. Daniel J. Evans (R-Wash.) was found stabbed to de*ath in her condominium six blocks from Evans’ Capitol Hill office in 1986, according to D.C. police.
According to the senator, Sally S. Heet’s de*ath was discovered around 10:30 a.m. in her blood-stained flat at 520 E St. NE by her stepbrother and a coworker who went seeking for her after she failed to join Evans and a reporter for an 8 a.m. breakfast interview.
D.C. police said Heet died of several stab wounds, but they wouldn’t specify where the corpse was discovered or whether a weapon was found. According to police, there are no suspects or motives. An autopsy will be performed today to ascertain the exact time and cause of de*ath.
The entrance of Heet’s flat remained open yesterday afternoon as District police searched for evidence. The door jamb was smeared with bloody finger traces about five feet above the floor.
Heet, who was unmarried and lived alone, left his office at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Evans. “We know she arrived at the building because her car is still parked out front,” Evans stated. “However, her mailbox was discovered open, with the mail still inside.” Someone appears to have met up with her at that point.”
Evans stated that Heet joined his transition team in September 1983, following the de*ath of Sen. Henry M. (Scoop) Jackson (D-Washington). Heet, he claimed, had moved to the E Street address at the time.
The Dorset, a condominium, was refurbished roughly five years ago. The front door is kept locked, and visitors must call for admission from the door.
Marian Friedman, who lives above Heet’s flat, said she didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary Wednesday night.
“We haven’t had too many problems here,” she explained. “Someone was mugged in the lobby a couple of months ago.”
Friedman, a Smithsonian Institution information guide, stated that the four-story facility lacks both a superintendent and an elevator operator. She further stated that the majority of Dorset residents work on Capitol Hill.
Lisa Riggles, a 29-year-old artist who lives on the 600 block of Acker area NE, a half-block away from the Dorset, said her area has been beset by violence, including a k*illing, burglary, and stabbing, since February.
“We’ve decided to move to a nicer neighbourhood on the other side of the Hill,” she explained while walking her two huge dogs near Heet’s building.
Heet went to Seattle from Indiana in 1970 to attend the University of Washington, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. Heet was vice president and manager of corporate communications at Rainier National Bank in Seattle before joining Evans’ team.
“She was a close friend and confidant,” Evans said to reporters gathering in his office many hours after Heet’s de*ath was discovered. “She was a self-assured, independent, and capable woman.” We shall never forget her.”
Eric Payne of The Seattle Times was among the reporters present at Evans’ press conference, and he said he knew Heet well.
“We just had lunch yesterday,” he explained. “She was excellent at what she did.” She had no history in media, but she knew how to de*al with reporters. Sally was well-liked by the entire press corps from the Northwest papers.”
This Case is still unsolved..
