Charles Sinclair

Pete Piccini was the main investigator in the case from Brinnon, Washington. Robert and Dagmar’s credit cards were stolen and used repeatedly allowing Piccini to trace the transactions through several states. In one instance, a large, bearded white man with a bandaged right hand was seen using the Lintons’ credit cards to purchase a clarinet. When the credit card's use was reported through the media, all activity ceased. Piccini interviewed multiple suspects, including a suspicious looking man in a pawn shop with a bandage on his right hand. The investigation was tedious, leaving family members distressed and anxious about the ambiguous nature of the investigation.

For several days, a polite Texan wanting to invest in coins frequented Legacy Rare Coins in Murray, Utah multiple times a day. On May 4th, 1990, Sinclair (posing as "Jim Stockton") waited around until owner Kelly Finnegan closed up the shop. As he put his valuables in the safe, Sinclair murmured, "dumb bastard".

Pete Piccini, investigator of the Linton case, suspected Sinclair of the November 24, 1989 rape and murder of Amanda Stavik. However, DNA evidence from the crime led to the May 2019 conviction of Timothy Bass.

In the summer of 1986, Robert and Dagmar Linton headed towards the northwest in hopes of reaching Vancouver to see the World’s Fair. As they worked their way north for the first month, they frequently called home. When they reached Washington State, the phone calls stopped. The red and white trailer they had been traveling in was found empty at a campground in Washington State by a campground staff member. Their pickup was abandoned at the Seattle Tacoma Airport. It was mostly clean except for small amounts of blood in the wooden ceiling material of the camper shell. The blood included three distinct types: one matching Robert; one matching Dagmar; and one unknown. Inside the trailer, there was evidence of distress and a struggle. Despite the lack of remains, the family and authorities concluded that Robert and Dagmar Linton were murdered. The memorial was held on October 19 1986.

The Coin Shop Killer, born Charles Thurman Sinclair, was an American alleged robber and murderer suspected of various murders of coin shop owners from the early-1980s and 1990s. He was categorized as a nomadic killer who was linked to murders across the Western states of the United States as well as into Canada.

Sinclair started a coin shop in the 1970s in Hobbs, New Mexico using his own collection. He expanded his store to sell a wide range of guns including hunting rifles, collectible guns, and automatic weapons. In 1985, Sinclair's shop burned down. There were investigations for arson but no one was ever charged. The destruction of his only means of income led to defaults on bank loans. When creditors tried to repossess his gun stock he had used as collateral, Sinclair and his family left town.

He was a writer and actor, known for Lights Out (1946), Track of the Moon Beast (1976) and Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958).

In Billings, Montana on July 31st, Charles Sparboe, a 60 year old coin shop owner, and his assistant Catharine Newstrom, age 47, were both killed by being shot in the head with a .22 caliber handgun. The 10-year-old coin shop was also robbed of $54,000 in coins and gold. Similar to the other killings, Sinclair lingered around the shop, making himself accustomed and known to the owners by representing himself as a farmer from a town close by.

Charles Sinclair was born on April 11, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.