Suspect Changed His Story, Jury Told -- Green Admitted He Entered The Home Of Brenda Gere

EVERETT - The prime suspect in the disappearance of a Clearview girl initially told relatives he had never been near her house, then changed his story after his mother-in-law expressed concern that his fingerprints might be found there, she testified yesterday.

Michael Kay Green admitted he had been inside Brenda Gere's house about the time she returned home from school, said his now-former mother-in-law, Sharon Pittman. But he allegedly made the statement only after Pittman told him, "You'd better hope to God your fingerprints are nowhere in that house."

Green, 39, is on trial in Snohomish County Superior Court on a charge of aggravated first-degree murder in the death of 12-year-old Brenda in 1985. Her remains were found six years later on the Tulalip Tribes Reservation.

Shortly after the conversation with Pittman, Green was arrested in Denver and brought back to King County, where criminal charges were pending. On the flight home, Green began to cry and fidget with his handcuffs, Detective John Boren testified yesterday. Green said he "did something awful stupid," Boren said.

Green went on to admit he had been driving past the Gere house on Sept. 19, 1985, the day Brenda disappeared, and noticed a "for sale" sign outside. He also saw the front door was open and thought it was an open house, so he went inside, Boren said.

He then realized no one was there and left, Boren said. Green said he was afraid police would find his fingerprints in the house.

However, no fingerprints ever were found, even after the house was analyzed using FBI laser equipment.

Green accurately described the log-cabin-style home and even the dog in the back yard, Boren said.

Prosecutors contend Green kidnapped Brenda, stabbed her after raping her, then buried her body.

Green also has been convicted of several felonies in which he assaulted women with a large knife.

His ex-wife, Diana Pittman, told jurors that before Brenda's disappearance, she found a large kitchen knife in the trunk of their car.

In late summer of 1985, Green seemed depressed and moody, she said.

"He had quite a temper," she recalled.

Diana Pittman and Green were living with her parents, and Sharon Pittman told jurors it was a tense time in their household. "He was very angry at times, abusive at times, and we were all afraid of him," she said.

Green was the prime suspect in Brenda's disappearance within hours because neighbors described a man matching his description being in the area and gave a license-plate number for a car that was traced back to Green.

When detectives arrived at the house the night of Sept. 19, 1985, to interview Green, they asked him what he had worn that day, and he gave them some clothing.

But later, Sharon Pittman found a pair of pants with the seat ripped out in the washing machine.

When she confronted him, Green said he'd ripped them getting out of the car when he'd gotten lost on the way to a job interview that day.

When she asked him why he had lied to police, he left the room, she said.

Green fled two days later with the apparent intention of committing suicide but eventually surrendered in Colorado.

However, Judge Gerald Knight ruled jurors will not hear about a suicide note Green mailed to Diana Pittman a week after Brenda vanished in which he admitted to being inside the Gere house looking for money.

But Knight reserved ruling on a prosecution motion to use the letter against Green should he choose to testify.

Defense attorney Anthony Savage said he didn't know whether Green will testify.

The defense is expected to begin its case tomorrow.