Hearing Backstrom's story, Anderson told her ownwhich was far more chilling. After all, they've got the guy that did it. An extensive search began, which ended three days later with the tragic discovery of Mandys body lying face down in the Nooksack River. As Wagner chatted with investigators, she realized they were looking at the Mandy Stavik murder, and figured out what they were really after. In 2013, investigators went to Bass workplace, a bakery outlet store, in the hopes of obtaining a DNA sample from his delivery truck. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy, Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq, A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France, A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. Forecasters: Snow accumulations expected in Whatcom County lowlands, higher elevations overnight (Sat.) Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy, Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead, People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad, An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel, Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai, People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California, Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu, A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Det. The sheriffs office is asking anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Mulryan or OKeefe, or about what happened at the park between 6 p.m. Friday, April 3 and 8 a.m. Saturday to call 911 or the tip line at 360-778-6663. Never ever. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless, Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican, A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California, A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho, Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open, Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally, A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. Mary Stavik: She wanted to do everything she wanted to be very good to the best at everything she did. Kevin Bowhay: By weapon, that's what they used to gain to control of her. Her body was found three days later in the Nooksack River. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Peter Van Sant: When you lifted her out of the water as a father, did you say anything to her? Unfortunately, while investigators initially had plenty of persons of interest, all the suspects were eventually cleared by the DNA evidence or had a solid alibi. Peter Van Sant: You'd empty the garbage so it would be empty , Peter Van Sant: in case he dropped a cup or a bottle . Kevin Bowhay: His name wasn't even on the radar. But if this anonymous womans freelance forensic work, pushed by a desire to do right, was the means of closing a 28-year-old cold case, it was also what threatened the prosecutions case. Mandy ran right in front of him while heading towards her home, about an eighth of a mile from where he saw her. At trial, Mandys mother Mary testified that after several hours, the family became concerned and called the sheriffs office. Mary Stavik: They have to have 100% agreement. And wanted to make love to me. In total, some 30 local men gave DNA samples. There are 2 public schools in Acme with an average Homefacts rating of D+. "So, you didn't even kiss her or anything?" Ed Beaman | Juror: When we go in and deliberate, we had to turn in to be investigators and attorneys, too. However, after hearing each other's stories, Anderson decided to talk to police. On November 24, 1989, 18-year-old Stavik was home from college for Thanksgiving when she went out for a run near her home in Acme, Washington, and did not return. Robin Bass: Oh, yes. An autopsy report was expected today on Amanda Stavik, 18. Paul Snider allegedly killed two men near 80th and . Gerber said after Sather gave Mulryan money, Mulryan yelled at him to drive away. Unswayed, the judge sentenced Bass to the maximum sentence: nearly 27 years. Backstrom also never discussed her concerns with anyone in the area. It shouldn't have happened at all. Semen was found on her body and preserved. Gina Malone: Guilty as hell. Molly Brighton: I was like, "Wow, what a present. "No." Det. never." This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. So, I grabbed it and then I was like [laughs] I threw it in my desk drawer. Basss trial is scheduled to start in April. But when investigators approached him about providing a voluntary DNA sample to exclude him from the crime, he refused, Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney David McEachran told a court at Basss initial appearance on December 13, 2017. Peter Van Sant: How do you think she was abducted? Are you saying that when she came home, they met somewhere and had intimacy? Kevin Bowhay: So, when they did the autopsy, they were able to recover male DNA from Mandy. at some point, said "I'm gonna to kill myself." Stavik, 18, was home from college for Thanksgiving when she disappeared. Acme is a rural village in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The sheriffs office determined Gerbers truck matched the description of the vehicle that allegedly hit and killed Sather and that he told friends he was in the Acme area when something bad happened to a girl, the court records state. Sincerely Mandy Stavik, class of '89, number 13.". I felt like I went into prison, actually. Tim Bass' Coke can and cup retrieved by Kim Wagner. It occurred to Ron Peterson that Mandy's body may hold other important evidence. The suspected shooter of a double homicide in Tacoma, Washington, could be responsible for a third deadly shooting nearby, Fox13 reported . The burden of proof is on the state of Washington, not on the defense. Tim Bass' trial was turning into a family reunion from hell. An advisory statement says to expect total snow accumulations of up to 10 inches in lowland areas. He actually ended up firing the gun. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. Acme police department Sex offenders in Washington There are a total of 6,688 sex offenders in Washington. It's November 27, 1989. After I asked if it was that case and who it was, I felt a basic human moral obligation to help, the woman would later testify, according to the Bellingham Herald. Heather Backstrom: He would talk about my eyes and say that my eyes were beautiful. Tom Bass: He was on the phone with her in his bedroom. Kevin Bowhay: At this point, we decided, we need to get a surveillance team on him and follow him on his route. Bowhay says her assailant had to be in a vehicle. Timothy Bass had gone to Mount Baker High too. The sheriff's office is asking the . he'll spend enough years in jail, so if he ever does get out, his life will be practically over. Tom Bass recounted that when Tim was under investigation, he told Tom he had slept with Mandy Stavik decades ago and then asked Tom to tell police he had also slept with her. When she failed to return home, her family began to panic. 20/20 on ID airs at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery. Peter Van Sant: You must've been scared. Bass was found guilty of first-degree murder on May 24, 2019. I really, really never dreamed I really never dreamed it. Did you sleep the night before? He was weird. Jay Van Mersbergen | Juror: Maybe a quarter of the people tied up on whether or not there might be reasonable doubt. That is, until, 2013, when two mothers were chatting while their kids played at a waterpark. Where is Acme, Washington? Kevin Bowhay: They looked at it like, "No, it wouldn't be this family because They're well-liked in the community." She divorced Tim after his arrest and claims about his affair with Mandy. Police asked Bass for a saliva sample to get his DNA. But following Basss arrest, his attorneys attempted to have the DNA evidence thrown out because they argue the search violated his Fourth Amendment rights. At least, not at first. Information was received pertaining to literally hundreds of potential suspects, and leads were followed up locally, in other states, and foreign countries, including in Asia. One of the names now on the list was Bass. If one person doesn't agree, you've got a hung jury and they have to start all over again. The prosecution expert, the original medical examiner from 30 years ago, Dr. Gary Goldfogel, disagrees. It's game time." The lead detective on the case also discovered Mr. Bass lived on Strand Road near Mandy Staviks home when she disappeared in 1989, McEachran explained to the court. Luckily the police were able to recover male DNA from her remains, so all they needed to do was find a match. And that he had always been in love with me. His brother Tom took the stand. "And I turned to her and said, 'Oh, I do, too," Merilee Anderson says. What was that moment like? OKeefe is described as a white man who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, medium build with black hair and blue eyes, according to a press release, Wednesday night, April 8. He had mentored her off the court as well, becoming a father figure after Mandy's parents divorced. This goal was based on a 10% improvement from the national age-adjusted homicide rate of 6.1 in 2007. The businesses respond, Bellingham requires landlords to give this new notice of rent increases to tenants, Another piece of the puzzle set for connection between Lake Padden, Whatcom Falls Park, Morning snow covered roads in Whatcom. He began scouring the case file, pouring over old leads and old suspects. Det. And the things that . Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. Homicide Detectives Investigating After Body Found in First Hill. Senator Murray Highlights Millions in Funding to Fix Water Supply Issues, Promote Drought Resilience in Central WA. On 4/13/1949 at 19:55:42, a magnitude 7.0 (7.0 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 102.2 miles away from the city center, causing $80,000,000 total damage And which, you know, whatever. Timothy Forest Bass must never be allowed to walk the earth as a free person. There is a general store, post office, gas station, diner, elementary school and two churches located there. Kim Wagner: And I just stood there and went, "Oh, s---. Wendy Aughe was 29 when she went missing in 1987. This light went off in my head and I thought, Is that why the police were at my work? Det. Det. When the results came back from the state crime lab, . Although his DNA did not match the crime scene, Bowhay still wanted to talk to him again. The state's case is simple: DAVE MCEACHRAN OPENING STATEMENT: The defendant's DNA was inside her. July 18, 2020 / 11:04 PM She was runnin' away from whoever had her. In Tim Bass, detectives believed they had their killer. Sheriff Bill Elfo told ABC News that that shot Bass to the top of the suspect list. According to a news conference held after Basss arrest by Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo, eventually his investigators tried to shake loose names from the community in the 2010s. The investigation stalled yet again until police received an unexpected helping hand. It took a whole community. Peter Van Sant: As you're about to take the stand, what's going through your mind? However, in 2013, police were pointed in the direction of Timothy Bass. Although no one testified to ever seeing Tim Bass and Mandy together, juror Ed Beaman says they had a lot to discuss. Sheriff Bill Elfo, who was appointed top cop in 2003, described it as a place where residents don't lock their doors and leave their keys in the ignition. Furthermore, I don't believe I received a fair trial. Anderson says she demanded that Tim leave, but he refused. They exchanged stories and discovered they were talking about the same man, Timothy Bass. It didnt take this long. The shop, a branch of a commercial outfit supplying baked goods to customers across the region, was on an empty two-lane road north of Bellingham, Washington. Points the gun at her says "Get in," that point she's compliant. If Washington's current homicide rate remains steady, Washington will also meet this goal. The friends said it appeared as if the men inside had pulled Sather into the truck and were holding onto her. Gerber was formally charged Tuesday, April 7, with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery, according to Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey. The smallest thing would anger him. Gerber told investigators he remembered the passenger door opening and Sather falling to the ground. By Denver Pratt. I grabbed it and I put it in my desk drawer. Over 30 years ago, teenager Amanda Mandy Stavik disappeared while out for a run in her rural Washington town. But it's a big leap between thinking you have your man and convicting him in a court of law. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? STEPHEN JACKSON: Tim Bass is not guilty. Randomly, one of the mothers brought up a notorious case from years ago in Acme the unsolved rape and murder of a beloved local young woman, 18-year-old Mandy Stavik, a recent graduate of. Tom Bass: I think potentially more could've been his next victims. Det. The most monthly precipitation in Acme occurs in November with 5.2 inches. The Staviks' home was on a dead-end street, a mile from the highway. And we know that she was kidnapped, she was raped, and then she was killed. She had reportedly gone to college intending to be a commercial pilot, but abandoned the idea after she realised she would rather be looking out the window rather than [at] the instrument panel, a former teacher would say later. is 6.0%). The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes, A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India, The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution, A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors, State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya, A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California, Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Peter Van Sant: Mandy had come home for Thanksgiving break. Peter Van Sant: In your heart, as well as in your head, you wanted to finish this? Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. I'm like, "this is jackpot." Peter Van Sant: And what? Detectives are investigating after a deceased person was discovered in an abandoned building in First Hill on Wednesday night. When police questioned him, he claimed he couldnt remember who Stavik was, which police found suspicious because, in that small community, everybody knew about Staviks case. DAVE MCEACHRAN | PROSECUTOR: This was not a situation where there was consensual sex. That just happened.'. Guide Meridian (SR539) at Front Street (February 24, 2022). Now, it was time for a woman to testify who Bass knew very well: his now ex-wife Gina Malone. Ken Gates [pointing at house]: He lived right in this house right here. Kevin Bowhay: I believe whoever was chasin' her caught her and and hit her in the head, knockin' her out and then placed her in the river to make sure she drowned. Acme Map Acme is a census-designated place (CDP) in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The friends told sheriffs office investigators that after Sather stuck her arm into the passenger side to exchange the money for drugs, the truck took off with Sather hanging onto the side, court records state. JUDGE OLSON: For 30 years you have lived free from the responsibility for your acts, but that life has been a lie and tragically it has caught your family, your mother, your brother, your ex-wife and your children in its web. and I says, "Who?" Peter Van Sant: Why would his story evolve like that, in your opinion? Would love your thoughts, please comment. I didn't know what to say. Would your findings be consistent in all regards with that hypothetical? Det. 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