Violent serial robbers suspected in 3 holdups

Three armed robberies in Seattle and Renton within two hours Tuesday night likely were the work of a pair of violent serial robbers active in South King County since Nov. 21, police said yesterday.

The thieves used a small, silver handgun to rob the three businesses — a gas station, a convenience store and a restaurant — between 8 and 10 p.m.

No one was injured, but some victims in previous robberies were pistol-whipped and one was shot at.

The gunman was described as a tall, stocky black man, 18 to 25 years old, with a light complexion and slight facial hair, police said. His accomplice is about the same age but is shorter and has a darker complexion.

Seattle

Chief's gun had been under his car seat

Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske was unavailable for a second day to answer questions about the Dec. 26 theft of his gun from his car, but a spokesman said the chief had stored the gun under his driver's seat and believed he had locked the car.

Sean Whitcomb, who said he'd been asked by the chief to handle inquiries, said Kerlikowske told him that he checked when he couldn't find the gun to see if he had left it at police headquarters.

The car, which had been parked downtown, did not show signs of forced entry, Whitcomb said.

Seattle

Seattle University taps new law-school dean

Kellye Testy has been named dean of the law school at Seattle University.

Testy joined the university in 1992 and currently serves as associate dean of academic administration at the law school and as faculty director of the Center on Corporations, Law and Society.

She succeeds Rudolph Hasl, who served as dean for five years.

Seattle

Woman, 76, identified as victim in house fire

The woman who died in a Wallingford house fire Tuesday has been identified as Marie Therese Breysach, 76.

Breysach died of smoke inhalation, according to the King County Medical Examiner's Office.

The fire, which caused $225,000 damage to the home, started in electrical wiring in the floor space between the basement and a bathroom, a Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman said.

Bothell

Woman who filmed teen sex is sentenced

A 34-year-old Bothell woman who gave three teens alcohol and then filmed them having sex was sentenced Tuesday to 7-½ years in prison.

Michelle Houser encouraged a 13-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl to have sex July 16. Houser and her boyfriend, David Hill, were charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of child molestation. Prosecutors say they videotaped the boy and girl, then videotaped the 17-year-old girl having sex with another 17-year-old girl.

In October, Houser pleaded guilty to the three charges. Hill, 34, will be tried next month.

Burien

Idaho man dies during rollover crash Alcohol and speed likely were factors in an early morning accident in Burien yesterday that killed one man and injured three others, deputies said.

The car was speeding northbound near the 11800 block of Ambaum Boulevard Southwest when the driver lost control, and the car crashed into a barrier and rolled over, deputies said. They are investigating reports the car had been racing with another. One passenger, an Idaho man in his 20s, died. The driver, a 30-year-old Seattle man, and a female passenger were taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries. A third passenger, a 24-year-old Seattle man, was treated at the scene and released.

Times staff and news services