Interview with Steve Brenneman, Chief Investigator, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Person Cold Case Unit

BIO

Steve Brenneman has over 27 years of Law Enforcement experience. He started his career at the Everett Police Department retiring after 24 years, with 13 years as a Major Crimes/Cold Case Detective. As a Detective, he was tasked with investigating complex criminal cases related to persons crimes including homicide, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and officer Involved incidents. While in the Major Crimes unit, his team solved over 70 homicides. Currently, Steve is the Chief Investigator with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & People (MMIWP) Cold Case Investigations Unit supervising a team of dedicated investigators and a Victim/Witness Advocate and Case Coordinator focused on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People cold cases.

INTERVIEW

Lynn: Why did the State of Washington create a Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & People Task Force?

STEVE: From the AG’s Webpage:

The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & People (MMIWP) crisis is the culmination of generations of abuse, violence, harmful policy, and broken promises by government institutions. The instuitional structures and systems within our state and our nation do not adequately reflect the experiences of Indigenous people and therefore do not respond in ways that promote healing, justice and accountability.

While the work of the Task Force cannot repair past injustices, it furthers an important conversation regarding the responsibility of state, local, and federal governments to protect and uplift Indigenous people. Families and survivors do not receive the care and support needed to navigate complex systems during times of immense trauma. The Task Force holds this experience at the center of their work, ensuring that impacted community members receive proper support.

In 2021, the Legislature established the MMIWP Task Force, administered by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO), to understand and address the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous people. The Task Force continues to address issues including data collection, jurisdiction, and training, and create best practices and propose actionable recommendations that call on communities, law enforcement, government at all levels, resource and service providers, and other institutions to improve their response to violence against Indigenous people and to meaningfully address the root causes of the crisis. 

LYNN: Why do you think Indigenous people, especially women, are murdered and/or go missing at a greater rate than other demographics?

STEVE: I will try to offer some general thoughts as an investigator about why Indigenous people are at a higher risk to be crime victims, but it is a complex combination of factors that cause the disparity.

To start, the historical and sustained injustices that Indigenous communities have endured is an undeniable contributing factor to this crisis. That reality has caused intergenerational trauma that Indigenous communities continue to grapple with. Part of what has led to this crisis is that Indigenous communities and families have had to carry the burden of dealing with higher rates of poverty and isolation. Additionally, there are fewer programs to assist crime victims and families in need, further exacerbating the impacts of this harm. Often, the justice system that Indigenous communities should be able to rely on are under-resourced and families have too often been left on their own to advocate and search for their loved ones.

In terms of fact patterns of particular cases, cold cases vary in scope, but may include unsolved homicides, sexual offenses, sexually motivated offenses, missing persons, and cases of unidentified remains. There are always case specific factors that also must be considered, to include the motivation of the perpetrators who often are not Indigenous.

LYNN: What are some of the unique challenges Indigenous people face when it comes to interfacing with law enforcement?

STEVE: As mentioned above, the legal system for tribal members in Washington State can be difficult to navigate. Depending on where the crime occurred and the offender’s race or tribal membership, there may be multiple jurisdictions involved. This can result in a very complex and cumbersome legal process.

Additionally, there can sometimes be a lack of trust in law enforcement working these cases. This issue is magnified when cases go unsolved or are not prosecuted. Since taking this position, I have also noted that due to the remote locations of some of the reservations in Washington, it is often difficult to get in touch with victim’s families. Some live in areas where cell phone coverage is spotty, and communication is limited. These remote locations also can cause a slower emergency response leading victims to feel they won’t receive help when needed.

LYNN: How are the cases referred to you?

STEVE: Cases come into our office in a variety of ways. Since we are a newer unit that started in 2024, we partnered with our sister unit HITS (Homicide Identification Tracking System) and asked for a breakdown of all unsolved cases involving Native victims. They identified 110 cases in the state. We proactively reached out to the originating agencies for several of these cases and asked if they needed investigative assistance. Several agreed, and this led to our initial case submissions. As knowledge of our unit has grown, other agencies have requested assistance.

We also will field inquiries from victim families requesting we assist in their family members’ investigation. When this occurs, we reach out to the originating agency and offer assistance. If that offer is declined, our advocate will still work with the family to help them navigate the process with the originating agency. We also proactively monitor the WSP MIPA (Missing Indigenous Person Alert) list and assist by providing resources and information in those active cases.

LYNN: What kind of barriers (cultural, gender, or otherwise) do you encounter as you’re trying to solve a case? How does it impact your success?

STEVE: There are several barriers associated with cold case investigations. First, we often encounter investigative barriers to include witnesses or suspects who have passed away, incomplete or inaccurate case reports, and missing or damaged evidence. As one might expect, these cases went unsolved typically because there were no additional apparent investigative leads to pursue, and taking on these cases years later can be challenging. Nevertheless, to the degree permitted by the originating agency, our team is committed to this work and the thorough and complete investigation of every case that we take.

LYNN: How is your unit organized with regards to numbers of detectives and/or forensic people, duties, etc?

STEVE: The MMIWP Cold Case Investigations Unit has a supervisor, four investigators and a victim/witness advocate and case coordinator. The investigators are regionally assigned to the state based on the number of cold cases and geographical area. We all travel to assist with the various investigations throughout the state working with the originating agencies who have requested our assistance.

LYNN: Has the cold case unit been successful in reducing the rate of unresolved Indigenous cases?

STEVE: Yes, our unit started in 2024. Since that time, we have closed 7 homicide cases with one resulting in prosecution and conviction. We have also assisted in locating 40 missing Indigenous Persons by either locating them ourselves or providing information leading to their contact with Law Enforcement.

The MMIWP Cold Case Unit also maintains strong family relations with the assistance of our Victim/Witness Advocate and Case Coordinator who supports families in their interactions with Law Enforcement and navigating the justice system. Our advocate is currently working with 12 victim families including 37 different family members.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this interview on the 15th and learn about how they helped to solve the Tina Marie Alcorn case.

MISSING INDIGENOUS PERSONS TOOLKIT

What to do if an indigenous person goes missing.

Call the police and emphasize the following factors that can alert law enforcement to the urgency of the situation:

• If they are Indigenous and identify any tribal affiliations, descendancy, tribal community involvement, etc.

• If they are a child, autistic, or medically impaired.

• If they might be at risk to themselves or others, including any threats made towards or by the missing person.

• If they might be experiencing withdrawal from medication or any substance.

• Any disabilities, medical conditions, pregnancy status, cognitive or mental health concerns, like suicidal ideation, acts of self-harm or dementia, or lifesaving required medication, such as insulin. Also note if they have been seeking health services, like chemotherapy or dialysis.

• Any concerns regarding domestic violence, labor trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, or child abuse or neglect.

• Classify the missing person’s race accurately and correct it anywhere it is incorrect, like a report or flyer. Racial misclassification, which is the incorrect coding of someone’s race or ethnicity, can cause underutilization of appropriate resources and undermine the harmful impact of the MMIWP Crisis.

Remember: Obtain and verify the case number, the badge number and name of the officer you spoke with, and an initial copy of the report.

LYNN: Does your cold case squad approach your cases differently than any other cold case unit since you're dealing with a specific cultural population?

STEVE: We use generally approved investigative techniques in our investigations. Our unit differs in that we are an assisting agency and will provide as much support as is requested by the originating agency and the victim families. By statute, we are limited to supporting agencies in so far as the originating agency permits.

Some agencies only request a case review while others request that we take over the majority of the investigation. Since we are an assisting unit, we do our best to adhere to case strategies preferred by the originating agency. We assign our advocate to work with the families at the start of the investigation. Most of the agencies we assist don’t have advocates on staff to assist with family contacts and support. This helps us maintain a victim/family centered approach while working the case.

LYNN: Explain a ‘family and victim-centered’ approach.

STEVE: It means we prioritize open communication with victims and victim families while maintaining the integrity of the investigation. We assign our advocate to work with families at the very start of our investigations, and our investigators are in frequent contact with them.

Through the investigative process, we try our best to offer support and resources as things proceed. We tailor the frequency and mode of communication to what the family expresses is best for them. This, of course, can differ from family to family.

Our main priority is solving the case using sound investigative techniques while being mindful about how this process affects those invested in the case outcome. We have frequently heard from families that they felt their loved one was forgotten, and that Law Enforcement doesn’t care about the missing or murdered family member. We work hard to overcome this perceived bias and prioritize open communication with families, bringing them into the decision-making process whenever possible.

LYNN: How does the cold case unit interface with other agencies across the state and/or nation?

Our unit works closely with both in and out-of-state agencies. We have built relationships during our careers with multiple agencies and investigators throughout the state and the country. Our work requires us to travel frequently both in state and throughout the country as involved people move, and we do our best to perform all interviews in person. We are also frequently asked to assist out-of-state agencies with their investigations, which further strengthens our network of contacts.

LYNN: Is the data on missing and murdered Indigenous people tracked the same way as all other demographics?

STEVE: The short answer is Yes. However, there are several issues with accuracy in relation to data for Indigenous People. Often, Native People are misidentified as White, Hispanic, or Other. Most police systems only allow one entry, limiting the options for entry of biracial people. These inaccuracies can create barriers to resources that may otherwise be available to assist in these cases.

LYNN: Have any of your cold cases been solved through Forensic Genetic Genealogy? 

STEVE: Yes, we currently have an active case that FIGG is being considered as an investigative lead to assist in confirming suspect involvement. This is an ongoing active investigation, so I can’t provide details at this time. As a unit, we are very familiar with FIGG. Our team members have used this investigative tool in previous cases.

Regarding FIGG as it relates to the Indigenous population, there is a limited pool of Indigenous DNA profiles in the databases that law enforcement has access to. This complicates FIGG usage, making the genealogy portion of the investigation more difficult. The work is further complicated due to limited historical records being available in tribal communities.

LYNN: What’s the most notable cold case the unit has helped to solve for the Indigenous people?

STEVE: Case Press release:

A judge in Clallam County Superior Court sentenced Tina Marie Alcorn to more than 13 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to the murder of George David in 2016. The MMIWP Cold Case Investigations Unit helped to secure the conviction.

We were able to bring justice in this case because of the hard work of our cold case team in collaboration with local law enforcement. We also commend the hard work of the Port Angeles Police Department, who never gave up on this case, and thank the Clallam County Prosecutor for the support and collaboration from his office. It’s impossible to describe the pain of losing a loved one. Our team hope has been that bringing accountability and closure in this case can provide some measure of comfort to George’s family and friends.

George David was a renowned woodcarver, a resident of Neah Bay, and a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of Vancouver Island, B.C. His masterworks are featured around the world, from the royal collections of Norway to the city hall of Kobe, Japan. He also carved two 36-foot canoes for Chief Sealth’s gravesite in Suquamish. David, 65, was found deceased on March 28, 2016, in a friend’s Port Angeles apartment. He had traveled from Neah Bay just days earlier, intending to visit family in British Columbia and attend a funeral.

David's murder was initially investigated by the Port Angeles Police Department in 2016, and Alcorn was the primary suspect. However, there wasn't enough evidence to charge her.

In 2023, the Washington State Legislature funded the MMIWP Cold Case Team, the first of its kind in the United States. In 2024, Port Angeles police requested the assistance of the new cold case team to solve this case. The cold case team supported the department in conducting additional investigation into evidence collected in 2016, including additional DNA analysis performed by the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

This investigation provided the evidence needed to arrest Alcorn in June 2025. The Attorney General’s Office charged Alcorn with murder and ultimately secured her conviction. Alcorn pleaded guilty to second-degree murder along with a special sentencing enhancement for being armed with a deadly weapon during the crime.

Thanks so very much, Steve. This has been really enlightening. 

For readers: I shared the toolkit in the previous issue, but you can also click here to access it: https://shorturl.at/HZxK9. 

If you would like to contact the MMIWP Cold Case Unit, you may reach out to us at: crjmmiwp@atg.wa.gov or call844-770-7900 (toll-free).