Crime Corner: Local Dance Instructor Slain at Studio

December typically brings a countdown of excitement for the holidays. Families gather together, be merry, and enjoy the company of their friends. It was a cold and cloudy day on Friday, Dec. 7, 1979, when the city of Pullman and surrounding areas were informed of the murder of their beloved dance instructor, Nona Rae Lynch. The time of celebration for those who knew her was quickly overcome with mourning.

It was the late morning of Thursday, Dec. 6, when Nona’s body was found crumpled on the front floorboards of the back of a station wagon.

Police were initially called to Nona Rae’s studio at 960 South Grand Ave just after 4 a.m.

Nona’s husband first reported his wife missing before 4 a.m. that Thursday. Officers located blood drops on the concrete in front of the dance studio and clues that led them to a Traveling Lodge motel room belonging to William Terrence McGann.

McGann offered no resistance when police entered his room and arrested him.

Nona’s body remained in the car until 3:35 p.m. when warrants were brought from Colfax. Soon after, the police discovered McGann was not registered to the vehicle.

A pair of brown leather gloves stained with what looked like blood was found on the dashboard.

Police suspected her cause of death to be strangulation. This was later confirmed in McGann’s confession.

McGann confessed to breaking into the studio on the evening of Dec. 6 at about 10 p.m. in an attempt to steal the studio’s cash box. When Nona encountered him, he struck her, knocking her to the floor. He then strangled her and fled the scene.

Officer Ernest Moore of the Pullman Police Department noticed McGann sitting in his car in the parking lot next to the studio at 12:31 a.m. Moore discovered McGann in an intoxicated state. Moore could not arrest him as McGann was not driving and did not appear to plan to. Moore left soon after.

Nona’s husband suspected foul play was involved after finding blood on the floor.

Police returned to the scene with Officer Moore. As they looked around, Moore noticed McGann’s vehicle was no longer in the parking lot.

McGann was arrested and held in Whitman County Jail without bail or bond until court proceedings began.

By March, the Lynch family would see justice in Nona’s death. McGann was sentenced in early March 1980 to the maximum life sentence for the murder.

Reports say that McGann stood emotionless when the sentence was read. His parents showed no emotion, but his sister was in tears.

Nona was buried at Pullman City Cemetary in 1980 and rests near her family.