Patrick Streater: Tennessee man suspect in 1996 tanning bed murders now accused of rape in Washington

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A man formerly charged in the killing of two women at a Nashville tanning salon almost around 30 years ago is facing charges in Washington state, as per Fox 17. 

Patrick Streater was arrested on Tuesday, January 16, in Seattle on charges of attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as per FOX 17 News Nashville.

What did Patrick Streater do? 

Streater was charged with the 1996 fatal stabbings of Tiffany Campbell and Melissa Chilton, two 18-year-olds, at Exotic Tan for Men in Nashville. Their bodies were found at the back of the establishment on the afternoon of February 22, 1996.

According to reports, Streater was Campbell's ex-boyfriend. He was indicted on two first-degree murder charges, however, the case was eventually withdrawn due to the results of DNA forensic evidence testing.

Upon receiving the results, the District Attorney's Office declined to press charges against him, stating at the time that "after scientific testing and DNA analysis, it would not be appropriate to take this matter to trial," according to local news station WKRN.

In 2020, WKRN called the two killings one of Nashville's "most notorious unsolved cases."

Streater was jailed in 2002 for a series of home invasion robberies while he was employed in California as a high school football coach. According to CBS Sacramanto, he was incarcerated when he was charged in connection with the Nashville cold case.

Patrick Streater currently detained at King County Jail

No details were revealed about the new charges. Patrick Streater is currently detained at King County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Earlier in 2018, As per The Tennessean, Prosecutors and police said they would continue to investigate the case in search of new evidence.

"It was never that strong of a case," Streater's attorney Kyle Mothershead said after the announcement and added, "It only got weaker over time."

Mothershead credited prosecutors for continuing to test and retest evidence. "Kudos to the DA's office for actually taking the time to have the best testing available done before taking this case to trial," he said.

After the state announced its turnaround on Friday, police said they had "full and absolute confidence in the investigation that has taken place over all these years."