The man known as the “South Hill rapist” who stoked fear throughout Spokane starting in the late 1970s has died, a spokesperson for the Federal Way mayor’s office confirmed Wednesday.

Fred “Kevin” Coe, 78, terrorized the city from 1978 to 1981 and was accused of raping dozens of teen girls and women on Spokane’s South Hill. Authorities believe he is responsible for the rapes of 30 to 40 people, according to court documents and previous reporting from The Spokesman-Review.

After serving a 25-year sentence at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary, Coe spent the past 19 years on McNeil Island after former Attorney General Rob McKenna petitioned to civilly commit Coe for treatment as a sexually violent predator.

But he was released from McNeil Island in October because of poor health after suf

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