Everett court gives Talbott life sentence

Joe Teehan

KGMILaura Baanstra, the sister of Jay Cook, is comforted by her husband Gary Baanstra during closing arguments for the trial of William Talbott II at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP, Pool)

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The man convicted of killing a young Canadian couple in northwest Washington more than three decades ago will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The Daily Herald reports a Snohomish County judge Wednesday sentenced William Talbott II to two consecutive life terms with no parole in the killings of 18-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Jay Cook.

They disappeared while on a day trip to Seattle from their home in Victoria, B.C. in 1987 and their bodies were found near Alger and Monroe a week later.

Investigators used genetic genealogy to identify Talbott as the suspect, and a jury convicted him last month.

Jay Cook’s mother told the the court during sentencing that she believes the couple’s encounter with Talbott happened when her son pulled over to help a stranger on a cold night.