‘Cowboy’ Mike back on trial for Washington murder

A drifter once accused of raping a woman in Douglas County is going on trial for rape and murder in Olympia, Wash.

Michael John Braae, known as “Cowboy Mike” because of his fondness for Western wear, is accused of strangling a 44-year-old woman nearly seven years ago in Lacey. The body of Lori Jones was found under a bed.

The 48-year-old Braae is already serving an assault sentence in Idaho where he was arrested in July of 2001 after shooting at officers and jumping into the Snake River.

A separate Braae trial in Yakima in 2006 ended in a mistrial when a Yelm woman who had been shot in the head was unable to testify because of her brain injury.

Braae was arrested in Douglas County in 1998, after he was accused of raping a 20-year-old woman a year earlier. The woman accepted a ride from Braae to a friend’s house and told authorities she was assaulted during the ride.

Braae, who was then going by the name Kim VanLuven, was charged with rape, assault and harassment. The charges were later dismissed, after the credibility of the alleged victim was questioned.

Braae has a history of attempted escapes. In 1997, he escaped from the Thurston County Jail in Olympia while serving time for a drug conviction.

He’s being held at the state prison in Shelton and transported with extra security for his latest trial in Olympia.