An amazing story…..and I recall the cables that were written describing this were part of my SEIO course, as was the Marti Shogi Story…..she came and spoke to our class. Thanks for sharing it!
Ha. The SEIO arrest exercise really helped me a lot. In the seio arrest I kept cool and calm but the afterwards Jack Platt started asking me to report all the details—how many in the arrest team, how many males, how many female, car license plates, where did they take me—and I didn’t remember a lot of it. The adrenaline kind of got in the way I guess and I was more focused on demeanor than gathering info. So when it really happened in Moscow I was super ready — kind of switched on the mental video camera and got every detail. Probably the biggest example of a “training moment” really coming into play in the real world that I experienced.
It really surprises me you were "able to get the KGB side of everything that happened that night from the KGB officers who were in on the arrest." Did you write to them personally or was the correspondence gov-to-gov? In this type of exchange, are there agreed upon limits to the types of details that are shared?
There are probably a dozen Russian documentaries that include this including a couple that are wholly about this case, all with interviews of these guys. so these guys have been interviewed on record. Klimenko and Krassilnikov have also written memoirs that talk about the case and about me and the intersections we had. And I was able to interview some of them before relations got bad in 2016. So it’s a combination of all that.
Well it was a LOT more severe for Vorontsov, who was executed. But the reason diplomatic cover is used in high risk places is that it mitigates the risk since if they fail tonibserve it, we can do the same with one of their officers in the US. One aspect of the situation as we were preparing for this operational meet was that there was some concern on our side that they might not observe diplomatic immunity because a week prior to the meet one of their officers had gone missing in South Africa and they thought we had him. So there was apprehension that if an arrest occurred they would just hold our officers as a bargaining chip. But that didn’t happen. I would have been okay with it if it had happened—confident the USG would negotiate my release before I got gray hairs and in the meantime a front row seat to life in a Soviet prison for awhile. That probably sounds young and foolish but we were young and mostly not foolish—but maybe a little bit that way. I was utterly fascinated to be face to face with Krassilnikov and the others. They were always a silent, mostly unseen presence until suddenly I was in a room with them, they were real people with attitudes, personalities. It was like being given a role to play in the most exclusive interesting movie I could imagine. It’s still fodder for the imagination all these years later.
Do you believe the KGB uncovered GRU Lt. Col. Pyotr Popov, not due to (Heavens forbid!) a mole in the CIA (e.g., Edward Ellis Smith, Bruce Leonard Solie, Leonard V. McCoy, George Kisevalter, et al.?) in early 1957, but due to Nosenko-described "superior KGB surveillance," i.e., its watching, two years later, diplomat George Winters so closely as to be able to spot his mailing a (unnecessary) letter to him?
Please freshen my memory -- was it against Popov or Penkovsky (or both?) that the KGB allegedly so successfully used "Metka" and/or "Neptune 80"?
Might not the Vorontsov case have been a KGB op to convince us that that chemical stuff was so doggone (pardon the pun) effective that it didn't need no stinkin' moles in the Agency to uncover traitors to the USSR?
Sorry it took me a minute to answer this because it's asking some pretty big questions. Might doa. post on this at some point but here's the short version.
Re: Popov -- it's plausible they did observe Winters mailing th eletter as he was a diplomat, not really trained, and in fact CIA itself had not really developed all the techniques for manipulating surveillance in 1959 that would be in its "bag of tricks" by the 1980s when I came along. I mention that because in my research of all the 1985 compromises -- a dozen cases in all -- a tradecraft blunder was never the reason for the compromise. So if this were happening in 1985 and it was a CIA officer mailing the letter, I would say no. But 1959 and State guy...maybe. As to whether any of those others were moles, you have taken a deeper look at those guys than I have. I'm not sure.
Re: Metka it was real but I never heard them claim they nailed someone because of it. It was more of a "start an investigation" thing. Definitely didn't hear it was used successfully in the cases you mention.
Re: Vorontsov: I think on a gut level the things that makes me most skeptical that Vorontsov was controlled are: a) he was obsessed with and very, very clever about his security. He did very smart things to protect his identity. I never saw a dnagle do that. b) on the night of my arrest, he was there, and he had lost 20 pounds and was a shaking shell of his former self -- clearly had undergone some very, very unpleasant detention. c) I did meet with a controlled asset one time -- GTEASTBOUND, and the vibe couldn't be more different. Eastbound didn't seem very worried about his security at all, whereas Cowl was constantly conscious of it. Beyond that, there were official announcements form the Supreme Soviet that Vorontsov was executed and they didn't do that in other cases wher eit was a double. And finally yeah, he provided some pretty compelling stuff that I don't think they would have given up. So on balance I"m about 90% convinced he was not controlled except for the arrest.
Victims Rebecca Booth 73 years old and Vicki Witte 62 years old and 2 cats are being severely abused by our Landlords in Seattle, Washington. 73 Days Without Safe Water in our home. We buy bottled water, however have run out of money. We are being held HOSTAGE in the GARAGE at: 10559b Evanston Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98133 U.S.A. WE NEED HELP TO RELOCATE.
73 Days Without Safe Water from our faucets! We are in Danger! We are FLEEING Landlord abuse!
We are VICTIMS. We are women. Rebecca Booth 73 year old senior citizen and Vicki Witte 62 year old senior citizen are being abused by our Landlords. We are 2 women with 2 cats. Voyeurism, Assault, Attempted Murder, Elder Abuse by Landlords, Owners, Christopher Todd Koball male 65 and Craig Koball male 63 (Walter Berhalter). No safe water from our faucets or safe drinking water for 73 DAYS now. We need showers. We live on Social Security Retirement money. The Washington State Landlord Tenant Law Requires the Landlord to provide clean safe water for their Tenants. The Landlords are violating all Landlord Tenant Laws. Ant infestation since move in 10/01/2024. Refrigerator is going out, 45 degrees at coldest level.
Day 73 Without Water. This is VERY SERIOUS. We are in DANGER!
Landlords, Owners Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male ABUSE Elder senior female tenants in their rental home next door to these men. These men have pounded on our doors and windows, 3/16/2025 10:30 AM, 4/7/2025 12:20 AM, and 5/9/2025 2:20 PM and again 3:25 PM. Christopher Todd Koball Punched Vicki Witte in the right side jaw 10:29 AM 2/16/2025. A Protection Order was completed by VICTIM VICKI WITTE and electronically signed 2/20/2025 by Vicki Witte 62 years old. This detailed document took a full 8 hours to complete without a break in writing of the Attempted Murder. This assault happened inside our rental property. Live video taken shows full view of Christopher Todd Koball and briefly Rebecca Booth on video. Vicki is not seen in video, as she video taped this from Rebecca’s Apple IOS I-Phone Series II. We are Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte senior women married 31 years.
🆘 Day 73 Without Safe Drinking Water. Held HOSTAGE by the Landlords Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male and the Seattle Police Department in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Police Department will do nothing to help us. The Seattle Police Department endangers Elder Senior Citizen Women.
We are in the GARAGE at: 10559b Evanston Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133 U.S.A. We have not been able to take showers since December 15, 2024 due to Landlord abuse, neglect, assault to Vicki Witte, etc. One year lease began 10/01/2024 to expire 9/30/2025.
We did not have a working toilet until 2/16/2025, day of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON to Vicki Witte.
We are ELDER Senior Citizens, Women married 31 years to each other and we are HELD HOSTAGE IN AMERICA, circumstances created by landlords, Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male, Seattle Police Department and Seattle 911 Operators and/or all other law enforcement endanger Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte. We DO NOT DO DRUGS. We are not DRUG ADDICTS. THERE IS NO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN. There is absolutely no Prostitution! There is NO DEMENTIA NOR SCHIZOPHRENIA OR BIPOLAR. We are not ALCOHOLIC. No Prescription medications for Vicki Witte. Rebecca takes a couple legally prescribed medications that she can drive a car, a boat on. We are two ELDER women in serious PERIL (imminent danger).
The Seattle Police Department endangers us women. Seattle Police ATTACK, ASSAULT and HARASS VICTIMS Elder Senior Citizens Vicki Witte and Rebecca Booth. The Seattle Police Department must arrest and charge CRIMINALS Christopher Todd Koball male and Craig Koball male. The Seattle Police Department ENDANGERS two ELDER senior women legally married in America. This is the Seattle Police Department’s criminal activity. Police Departments, Law Enforcement are responsible for ADHERING to the law. They are not the law.
At first meeting, Craig Koball 63 told us he was a Hospice Nurse, RN. I believe Craig Koball is a danger to his patients. Christopher Todd Koball is not disabled. At first meeting Christopher stated he was on SSI Disability.
Landlord charges: ATTEMPTED MURDER, ELDER ABUSE, ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, TRESPASSING, BREAKING ENTRY, DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER, HARASSMENT, BULLYING, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, VOYEURISM, STALKING, INTIMIDATION, FALSE REPORTING, Landlords have Possible Drug and Alcohol Problem, Animal Cruelty, Inhumane Treatment and Cruelty.
Profile of Vicki Witte:
Writer; Author; Independent Journalist; Washington State Private Investigator; Women's Running Coach, PADI Trained Scuba Diver, San Diego, CA 1986; Distance Swimmer; Clinical Research Professional; Humanitarian; Pro Freedom; Pro Civil Rights; Pro U.S. Constitution (Freedom of Speech);
Female
Profile of Rebecca Booth:
Crime Scene Technician; Certified Paralegal; Washington State Private Investigator; Washington State Realtor; Computer Engineer with Trans World Airlines; Humanitarian; Pro Civil Rights; Pro U.S. Constitution (Freedom of Speech);
Female
We have 2 Emotional Support Animals Cats (gentle felines). This is animal cruelty and inhumane treatment by the landlords and the Seattle Police Department.
CHEMICAL POISONING IN OUR TAP WATER Discovered 11:35 AM Friday 2/28/2025. Reported to Landlords, Poison Control, Seattle Water Department, King County Public Health, Laboratories for testing. Evidence collected missing from our rental property. Spoke with former Fort Collins, Colorado Police Officer of 27 years about EVIDENCE on phone call made to her 7:42 PM 3/7/2025 a 7 minute phone call regarding evidence of poisoning of water.
We pay $2,200 per month for plus sewage replacement upon move in, pet deposit $300 and $1,500 move in deposit for 500 square foot garage converted into an apartment. Our automobile is parked in front of our rental property, 2014 Chevy Cruze Maroon license plate CCV3207.
Owners, Landlords have a locked mailbox. Our mailbox is to the right of Craig Koball and Christopher Todd Koball’s mailbox, ours without address or lock which is required by law in the State of Washington.
We live in Abhorrent conditions created by this man Christopher Todd Koball owner of our rental property and his husband Craig Koball, ABUSERS, CRIMINALS at large.
We believe Christopher Todd Koball and Craig Koball are extremely sexually obsessed with Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte. There is voyeurism going on. We are sickened by this behavior.
3rd Assailant, Video Voyeurism, Black curly hair, Black rim glasses, mid 30’s, under the influence, harassment, bullying, video voyeurism, threatening Vicki Witte on my private property. Man lives across the street. My Lease agreement 10/01/2024 - 09/30/2025.
My voice is very sore from begging the Landlords Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male for water. They have cut us off from water and the world. My voice will soften in time, when we are rescued. 🆘
An amazing story…..and I recall the cables that were written describing this were part of my SEIO course, as was the Marti Shogi Story…..she came and spoke to our class. Thanks for sharing it!
Ha. The SEIO arrest exercise really helped me a lot. In the seio arrest I kept cool and calm but the afterwards Jack Platt started asking me to report all the details—how many in the arrest team, how many males, how many female, car license plates, where did they take me—and I didn’t remember a lot of it. The adrenaline kind of got in the way I guess and I was more focused on demeanor than gathering info. So when it really happened in Moscow I was super ready — kind of switched on the mental video camera and got every detail. Probably the biggest example of a “training moment” really coming into play in the real world that I experienced.
Indeed!
It really surprises me you were "able to get the KGB side of everything that happened that night from the KGB officers who were in on the arrest." Did you write to them personally or was the correspondence gov-to-gov? In this type of exchange, are there agreed upon limits to the types of details that are shared?
There are probably a dozen Russian documentaries that include this including a couple that are wholly about this case, all with interviews of these guys. so these guys have been interviewed on record. Klimenko and Krassilnikov have also written memoirs that talk about the case and about me and the intersections we had. And I was able to interview some of them before relations got bad in 2016. So it’s a combination of all that.
Fascinating account. I would think the punishment would be more severe than persona non grata for espionage by a foreign diplomat.
Well it was a LOT more severe for Vorontsov, who was executed. But the reason diplomatic cover is used in high risk places is that it mitigates the risk since if they fail tonibserve it, we can do the same with one of their officers in the US. One aspect of the situation as we were preparing for this operational meet was that there was some concern on our side that they might not observe diplomatic immunity because a week prior to the meet one of their officers had gone missing in South Africa and they thought we had him. So there was apprehension that if an arrest occurred they would just hold our officers as a bargaining chip. But that didn’t happen. I would have been okay with it if it had happened—confident the USG would negotiate my release before I got gray hairs and in the meantime a front row seat to life in a Soviet prison for awhile. That probably sounds young and foolish but we were young and mostly not foolish—but maybe a little bit that way. I was utterly fascinated to be face to face with Krassilnikov and the others. They were always a silent, mostly unseen presence until suddenly I was in a room with them, they were real people with attitudes, personalities. It was like being given a role to play in the most exclusive interesting movie I could imagine. It’s still fodder for the imagination all these years later.
Yeah sorry that happened to Vorontsov. These are great stories of a unique era.
Michael,
Do you believe the KGB uncovered GRU Lt. Col. Pyotr Popov, not due to (Heavens forbid!) a mole in the CIA (e.g., Edward Ellis Smith, Bruce Leonard Solie, Leonard V. McCoy, George Kisevalter, et al.?) in early 1957, but due to Nosenko-described "superior KGB surveillance," i.e., its watching, two years later, diplomat George Winters so closely as to be able to spot his mailing a (unnecessary) letter to him?
Please freshen my memory -- was it against Popov or Penkovsky (or both?) that the KGB allegedly so successfully used "Metka" and/or "Neptune 80"?
Might not the Vorontsov case have been a KGB op to convince us that that chemical stuff was so doggone (pardon the pun) effective that it didn't need no stinkin' moles in the Agency to uncover traitors to the USSR?
-- Tom
Sorry it took me a minute to answer this because it's asking some pretty big questions. Might doa. post on this at some point but here's the short version.
Re: Popov -- it's plausible they did observe Winters mailing th eletter as he was a diplomat, not really trained, and in fact CIA itself had not really developed all the techniques for manipulating surveillance in 1959 that would be in its "bag of tricks" by the 1980s when I came along. I mention that because in my research of all the 1985 compromises -- a dozen cases in all -- a tradecraft blunder was never the reason for the compromise. So if this were happening in 1985 and it was a CIA officer mailing the letter, I would say no. But 1959 and State guy...maybe. As to whether any of those others were moles, you have taken a deeper look at those guys than I have. I'm not sure.
Re: Metka it was real but I never heard them claim they nailed someone because of it. It was more of a "start an investigation" thing. Definitely didn't hear it was used successfully in the cases you mention.
Re: Vorontsov: I think on a gut level the things that makes me most skeptical that Vorontsov was controlled are: a) he was obsessed with and very, very clever about his security. He did very smart things to protect his identity. I never saw a dnagle do that. b) on the night of my arrest, he was there, and he had lost 20 pounds and was a shaking shell of his former self -- clearly had undergone some very, very unpleasant detention. c) I did meet with a controlled asset one time -- GTEASTBOUND, and the vibe couldn't be more different. Eastbound didn't seem very worried about his security at all, whereas Cowl was constantly conscious of it. Beyond that, there were official announcements form the Supreme Soviet that Vorontsov was executed and they didn't do that in other cases wher eit was a double. And finally yeah, he provided some pretty compelling stuff that I don't think they would have given up. So on balance I"m about 90% convinced he was not controlled except for the arrest.
Animal Cruelty Inhumane Treatment and Cruelty.
Victims Rebecca Booth 73 years old and Vicki Witte 62 years old and 2 cats are being severely abused by our Landlords in Seattle, Washington. 73 Days Without Safe Water in our home. We buy bottled water, however have run out of money. We are being held HOSTAGE in the GARAGE at: 10559b Evanston Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98133 U.S.A. WE NEED HELP TO RELOCATE.
73 Days Without Safe Water from our faucets! We are in Danger! We are FLEEING Landlord abuse!
We are VICTIMS. We are women. Rebecca Booth 73 year old senior citizen and Vicki Witte 62 year old senior citizen are being abused by our Landlords. We are 2 women with 2 cats. Voyeurism, Assault, Attempted Murder, Elder Abuse by Landlords, Owners, Christopher Todd Koball male 65 and Craig Koball male 63 (Walter Berhalter). No safe water from our faucets or safe drinking water for 73 DAYS now. We need showers. We live on Social Security Retirement money. The Washington State Landlord Tenant Law Requires the Landlord to provide clean safe water for their Tenants. The Landlords are violating all Landlord Tenant Laws. Ant infestation since move in 10/01/2024. Refrigerator is going out, 45 degrees at coldest level.
Day 73 Without Water. This is VERY SERIOUS. We are in DANGER!
Landlords, Owners Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male ABUSE Elder senior female tenants in their rental home next door to these men. These men have pounded on our doors and windows, 3/16/2025 10:30 AM, 4/7/2025 12:20 AM, and 5/9/2025 2:20 PM and again 3:25 PM. Christopher Todd Koball Punched Vicki Witte in the right side jaw 10:29 AM 2/16/2025. A Protection Order was completed by VICTIM VICKI WITTE and electronically signed 2/20/2025 by Vicki Witte 62 years old. This detailed document took a full 8 hours to complete without a break in writing of the Attempted Murder. This assault happened inside our rental property. Live video taken shows full view of Christopher Todd Koball and briefly Rebecca Booth on video. Vicki is not seen in video, as she video taped this from Rebecca’s Apple IOS I-Phone Series II. We are Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte senior women married 31 years.
🆘 Day 73 Without Safe Drinking Water. Held HOSTAGE by the Landlords Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male and the Seattle Police Department in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Police Department will do nothing to help us. The Seattle Police Department endangers Elder Senior Citizen Women.
We are in the GARAGE at: 10559b Evanston Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133 U.S.A. We have not been able to take showers since December 15, 2024 due to Landlord abuse, neglect, assault to Vicki Witte, etc. One year lease began 10/01/2024 to expire 9/30/2025.
We did not have a working toilet until 2/16/2025, day of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON to Vicki Witte.
We are ELDER Senior Citizens, Women married 31 years to each other and we are HELD HOSTAGE IN AMERICA, circumstances created by landlords, Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male, Seattle Police Department and Seattle 911 Operators and/or all other law enforcement endanger Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte. We DO NOT DO DRUGS. We are not DRUG ADDICTS. THERE IS NO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN. There is absolutely no Prostitution! There is NO DEMENTIA NOR SCHIZOPHRENIA OR BIPOLAR. We are not ALCOHOLIC. No Prescription medications for Vicki Witte. Rebecca takes a couple legally prescribed medications that she can drive a car, a boat on. We are two ELDER women in serious PERIL (imminent danger).
The Seattle Police Department endangers us women. Seattle Police ATTACK, ASSAULT and HARASS VICTIMS Elder Senior Citizens Vicki Witte and Rebecca Booth. The Seattle Police Department must arrest and charge CRIMINALS Christopher Todd Koball male and Craig Koball male. The Seattle Police Department ENDANGERS two ELDER senior women legally married in America. This is the Seattle Police Department’s criminal activity. Police Departments, Law Enforcement are responsible for ADHERING to the law. They are not the law.
At first meeting, Craig Koball 63 told us he was a Hospice Nurse, RN. I believe Craig Koball is a danger to his patients. Christopher Todd Koball is not disabled. At first meeting Christopher stated he was on SSI Disability.
Landlord charges: ATTEMPTED MURDER, ELDER ABUSE, ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, TRESPASSING, BREAKING ENTRY, DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER, HARASSMENT, BULLYING, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, VOYEURISM, STALKING, INTIMIDATION, FALSE REPORTING, Landlords have Possible Drug and Alcohol Problem, Animal Cruelty, Inhumane Treatment and Cruelty.
Profile of Vicki Witte:
Writer; Author; Independent Journalist; Washington State Private Investigator; Women's Running Coach, PADI Trained Scuba Diver, San Diego, CA 1986; Distance Swimmer; Clinical Research Professional; Humanitarian; Pro Freedom; Pro Civil Rights; Pro U.S. Constitution (Freedom of Speech);
Female
Profile of Rebecca Booth:
Crime Scene Technician; Certified Paralegal; Washington State Private Investigator; Washington State Realtor; Computer Engineer with Trans World Airlines; Humanitarian; Pro Civil Rights; Pro U.S. Constitution (Freedom of Speech);
Female
We have 2 Emotional Support Animals Cats (gentle felines). This is animal cruelty and inhumane treatment by the landlords and the Seattle Police Department.
CHEMICAL POISONING IN OUR TAP WATER Discovered 11:35 AM Friday 2/28/2025. Reported to Landlords, Poison Control, Seattle Water Department, King County Public Health, Laboratories for testing. Evidence collected missing from our rental property. Spoke with former Fort Collins, Colorado Police Officer of 27 years about EVIDENCE on phone call made to her 7:42 PM 3/7/2025 a 7 minute phone call regarding evidence of poisoning of water.
We pay $2,200 per month for plus sewage replacement upon move in, pet deposit $300 and $1,500 move in deposit for 500 square foot garage converted into an apartment. Our automobile is parked in front of our rental property, 2014 Chevy Cruze Maroon license plate CCV3207.
Owners, Landlords have a locked mailbox. Our mailbox is to the right of Craig Koball and Christopher Todd Koball’s mailbox, ours without address or lock which is required by law in the State of Washington.
We live in Abhorrent conditions created by this man Christopher Todd Koball owner of our rental property and his husband Craig Koball, ABUSERS, CRIMINALS at large.
We believe Christopher Todd Koball and Craig Koball are extremely sexually obsessed with Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte. There is voyeurism going on. We are sickened by this behavior.
3rd Assailant, Video Voyeurism, Black curly hair, Black rim glasses, mid 30’s, under the influence, harassment, bullying, video voyeurism, threatening Vicki Witte on my private property. Man lives across the street. My Lease agreement 10/01/2024 - 09/30/2025.
My voice is very sore from begging the Landlords Craig Koball male and Christopher Todd Koball male for water. They have cut us off from water and the world. My voice will soften in time, when we are rescued. 🆘
Our names are:
Rebecca Booth and Vicki Witte
10559b Evanston Ave N
Seattle, WA 98133
c: 316.803.2171
c: 316.803.2297
e: vwittebooth@gmail.com
e: vickiwitte@icloud.co