1986 Pasco murder suspect’s bail set at $500,000. He’s already serving a 10-year prison term

The suspect in a 34-year-old Pasco murder case was ordered Wednesday held on $500,000 bail.

Theodore Milam made his first appearance in a Franklin County courtroom for the February 1986 death of Robert J. McDonald.

While Judge Bruce Spanner agreed to set the high amount, there already was no chance of Milam posting bond since last week he was sentenced to 10 years on an unrelated rape case.

Milam, 56, is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with first-degree murder.

He was identified as the suspect just two years ago after advances in DNA science linked him to the Pasco cold case. The test results also showed his DNA profile was a match in a 1999 case in Spokane County.

Milam, who’s from Deer Park, reached a “global resolution” with prosecutors in both counties that ultimately will send him to prison for 18 1/2 years on the two cases.

He was transferred to the Franklin County jail Tuesday after wrapping up the rape case in Spokane.

Attorney Peyman Younesi has been appointed to represent Milam, but was not available to appear on his behalf Wednesday.

Prosecutor Shawn Sant said the next hearing will be Jan. 21 for Milam to enter his initial plea to the murder charge.

Then, a couple of weeks later, Milam is expected back in court to plead guilty to the reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter, according to his plea agreement.

Sant told the Tri-City Herald on Tuesday that McDonald’s family approved the deal that will bring some finality for the loved ones.

McDonald, 40, was found in the shallow bay of the Pasco Boat Basin by two young boys out playing with their father.

The small park at the south end of Fourth Avenue and Washington Street is now known as Schlagel Park.

The Richland contractor’s body had been in the water for several hours. His hands had been bound together with a T-shirt and he was nearly naked, according to court documents.

An autopsy determined that McDonald had been hit in the head, causing a brain bleed and loss of consciousness, and then thrown in to the Columbia River by his attacker.

This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 5:38 PM.