WA ‘South Hill Rapist’ moved to home near elementary school

Auburn mayor concerned over "South Hill Rapist" moving to city

The mayor of Auburn is expressing her frustrating after learning the man known as the "South Hill Rapist" would be moving to her city through the media.

AUBURN, Wash. - Spokane's infamous "South Hill Rapist," Kevin Coe is no longer living in Auburn, following his release from McNeil Island earlier this month.

Mayor Nancy Backus confirmed Tuesday that Coe, who registered as a sex offender and moved to an adult family home in Auburn, has since moved back out of the city.

Who is Kevin Coe?

The backstory:

Coe was convicted for a spate of violent rapes in Spokane's South Hill neighborhood that occurred between 1977–1981. He was released to an adult family home in Federal Way, where he registered as a Level 3 sex offender, meaning "high risk."

Shortly after, Backus announced that she learned Coe was moved to a home in Auburn without her being consulted.

"Quite frankly, I think he should still be in prison," said Backus. "He came to the door to talk to our detectives. They saw a walker but he wasn’t using it."

And, she says, despite reports of health issues, police told her he's able to walk.

"We heard that he was wheelchair bound and when our detectives went up to confirm that he was at the location in Auburn, he wasn’t wheelchair bound. He was pretty ambulatory and that concerns me a great deal."

Backus announced Tuesday that Coe was removed from the care home in Auburn.

She says that only happened due to the home's location on tribal land.

"It was a blessing because what we as a city don’t have the legal right to do, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe did. They were able to trespass him from reservation property."

What they're saying:

"As many of you know, last week I shared my deep frustration over how the release and relocation of Kevin Coe — known as the ‘South Hill Rapist’ — was handled. Auburn was not notified in advance that Mr. Coe would be moved into our community, and like many of you, we learned of it through the media," wrote Backus. "Mr. Coe is no longer residing in Auburn. Through the quick, coordinated work of the Auburn Police Department, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of Indians, and engaged members of our community, Mr. Coe has since been removed from his Auburn residence and is no longer living in our city."

FOX 13 Seattle reached out to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, who explained that Coe is "no longer the custody or care of DSHS, and questions should be directed to his legal representatives."

FOX 13 reached out to his defense attorneys that were listed in court documents late Tuesday. We are waiting to hear back.

According to the King County Sheriff's Office online portal, Coe was moved back to Federal Way. His address appears to be just a block west of Brigadoon Elementary School.

Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell confirmed the move on Tuesday, writing:

"I am personally deeply troubled that current state law permits a Level 3 sex offender to reside in close proximity to an elementary school. I strongly urge our State Legislature to re-examine these laws and consider whether it is in the public's best interest to allow such individuals to live near any school."

Given Coe's Level 3 sex offender status, Ferrell says he is coordinating with the King County Sheriff's Office to notify all residents within a quarter-mile radius of his address.

"Public safety remains our highest priority, and while our legal options in this particular case are limited, we are committed to doing everything within our authority to support and protect our community," wrote Ferrell.

Backus says she's committed to working on new legislation that would improve the notification system for local leaders.

"I made a commitment early on in this, I would support legislation and work with Olympia to try to get something passed," said Backus.