Linda Malcom murder: Six years later, Port Orchard police still searching for U.S. Navy veteran's killer

malcomWANTED IN PORT ORCHARD -- Six years ago this week, the body of a U.S. Navy veteran was discovered inside a burning home in Port Orchard. It was a murder that stunned her neighbors in 2008, when they learned somebody had killed her and tried to cover up the crime. Detectives in Port Orchard have never given up trying to solve the case and now, they’re turning to you for help. Everybody in town knew Linda Malcom. She served 9 years in the Navy, then settled in Port Orchard and worked as a paralegal. Friends say she was a wonderful person, so it came as such a shock in the early morning hours of April 30, 2008 when someone set her Sidney Ave. rental home on fire. her neighbor, Gabriel Stewart, did everything he could to save her. “I kicked in her back door. There was still so much smoke. I tried crawling on the ground but there was too much smoke to get in.” By the time firefighters got the flames out, Linda was dead, stabbed multiple times. "We believe that the fire was intentionally started to cover up the murder.” Says Port Orchard Det. Jimmie Foster. He says before Linda was killed, she was getting ready to move to a new apartment and take a job in Belfair. In the beginning, Det. Foster says they had a couple of people they thought might be responsible. "At that time we did not have enough to follow through with any type of arrest, but they are still people of interest to us." Since then, they've developed several more people of interest, but that's all they are. Detectives are hoping someone who was too afraid to come forward 6 years ago will now be willing to share what they know, even something they might have just heard about the arson or Linda's murder. "They just need to step up, get the courage to talk to us,” says Det. Foster. “If they have information that they think is irrelevant in the case, it may be something major for us." After the fire, Linda's house was torn down. Though there's no visible reminder of her murder now, Port Orchard police and her former neighbors are hoping this new push for tips from the public will help identify her killer. If you know anything that can help solve her murder, please call the Port Orchard police tipline at 1-844-TIP-POPD (844- CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers