Daughter recalls discovery of mother dead, under bed

One of the daughters of Lori Jones testified Thursday about returning home to the Summer Ridge Apartments in Lacey after a camping trip in July 2001, when her mother was discovered strangled to death under her bed.

A fingerprint matching "Cowboy" Mike Braae's was discovered, and investigators later tied him to DNA at the crime scene.

Braae, 48, is on trial for first-degree murder and rape in connection with Lori Jones' death. Jurors heard opening statements Thursday.

Braae was described in court as a transient who frequented karaoke bars in Thurston County. He apparently met Lori Jones, 44, at Bailey's Motor Inn in Olympia on July 6, 2001, and left with her that night. She was discovered dead July 8 after Elisa Jones, then 11, and her friend's family had to get an assistant apartment manager to unlock the door to the apartment.

Elisa Jones, now an 18-year-old Tumwater High School senior who was accepted into the honors program at California State University, Northridge, said she knew something was wrong when she called her mother during the camping trip and couldn't get an answer. Things were out of place at the apartment she shared with her mother. Jones said the blinds in her room were dented, and the pillowcases were missing from her bed. A cigarette butt different from the brand her mother smoked was floating in a toilet.

The assistant apartment manager found Lori Jones. "The assistant manager looked underneath the bed; she screamed and said, 'She's under there,' " Elisa Jones said.

Elisa Jones said her mother stayed home a lot, liked to cook and clean, and loved to cheer her on during her games on a local youth basketball team.

Another of Lori Jones' daughters, Melinda Frazier, testified Thursday, breaking into sobs when she talked about her mom.

"We talked almost every day," Frazier said. "She was my best friend."

One of Braae's defense attorneys, James Shackleton, urged jurors to be cautious when considering the evidence against Braae during opening statements. He expressed confidence that it will not show Braae to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecutor Christy Peters said Braae's movements in 2001, after Lacey police announced in the media that they were looking for him, showed consciousness of guilt. Braae is serving a prison sentence in Idaho for aggravated assault and eluding an officer after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase there and shooting at police, also in July 2001.

In his attempt to elude police, he also jumped off a 40-foot bridge into the Snake River. Peters said there was evidence he tried to drown a police dog sent to capture him.

Peters said in opening statements that the DNA tying Braae to Jones' rape and murder is a 1 in 300 billion match.

Braae was a colorful figure in Thurston County, known as "Cowboy" Mike for his western wear and country-music taste, reports say.

On Thursday, he appeared in court in glasses, jeans and a blazer, with thinning, graying hair. County officers were positioned around him, with one holding a remote control that would activate a restraining device if Brae caused any disruptions. Chief Criminal Deputy James Chamberlain has said extra precautions are being taken because of Braae's propensity for escape attempts.

In a separate case in 2006, Braae was charged with attempted murder in Yakima County. That case ended in a mistrial. Braae was accused of shooting Marchelle Morgan of Yelm in the head there and leaving her on the side of a road south of Union Gap.

Lacey police detective Bev Reinhold testified outside the jury's presence Thursday that past media accounts have suggested Braae is responsible for other crimes against women and disappearances in the Northwest.

Braae's trial continues today before Superior Court Judge Richard Strophy.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.