acme, washington homicide
Merrilee Anderson: I really wasn't ready, because we're in a small town. Would her family and friends finally get justice? Reporter Denver Pratt joined The Bellingham Herald in 2017 and covers courts and criminal and social justice. Det. I grabbed it and I put it in my desk drawer. She was naked except for socks and her blue sneakers. He began scouring the case file, pouring over old leads and old suspects. I'm gonna get you something.". Basketball player, cheerleader, top student, once an aspiring airline pilot, Mandy Stavik truly stood out says her mother Mary. She had it all going for her; she had a bright future ahead of her.. Kevin Bowhay: No. Twenty-four long years had passed without an arrest, and police finally had a prime suspect. And I was praying that that would not happen. Bass had lived just down the road from Stavik. While police had to decline Wagners offer because they couldnt enlist a civilian in an investigation, they did tell her they could accept evidence brought to them, so Wagner watched Bass until one day he threw away a water cup at work in 2017. No, says defense attorney Stephen Jackson. Go get make me food.". STARCK FOLLIS | DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's easy to make the assumption that this pretty young woman would never have anything to do with Mr. Bass Just because somebody hadn't seen them together doesn't mean that they hadn't been together at some point. Det. Afterward, she tried to flee a scenario suggested by the scratches on her arms and legs. One of the friends said he saw the passenger door open and Sather fall to the ground before the truck drove away, the court records state. He married another Mount Baker graduate, Gina Malone. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Furthermore, I don't believe I received a fair trial. GINA MALONE [on witness stand]: She put her hands over her face and like this [covers her face with her hands]. What do you say? at some point, said "I'm gonna to kill myself." Police asked Bass for a saliva sample to get his DNA. Kevin Bowhay: He went from denial to, "How did you get my DNA, what are you talking about?". Acme is located in Whatcom County, WA . All the factors contributed to the polices interest in Bass as a suspect by 2013. Merrilee Anderson: So, I open the door and there's Tim Bass at the door. When authorities tested the cup, Bass DNA matched the DNA taken from Staviks body. Peter Van Sant: You must've been scared. We had posters on the wall and maps. And we went through everything just like the attorneys did. On the Friday after the holiday, Ms Stavik left for a jog around 2:30 p.m. wearing a light-coloured sweatshirt, green sweatpants and blue running shoes, according to the Herald. Acme, Washington (WA 98220) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders Acme, Washington detailed profile Toggle navigation Forum Cities Cities Schools Schools Neighborhoods Neighborhoods Assessments Assessments It was after a softball game in the summer of 1989, a few months before Mandy's murder. The investigators had come once before in 2013, asking about a delivery truck driver named Timothy Bass. STEPHEN JACKSON: Tim Bass is not guilty. 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. But authorities hit roadblocks and dead ends. She was a high achiever, a former teacher told the Associated Press last December. What a birthday present.". JIM FREEMAN EULOGY: You see her smiling back at you right at your soul with eyes that say, "I love life.". Kevin Bowhay: His name wasn't even on the radar. I believe it was a gun. Sincerely Mandy Stavik, class of '89, number 13.". After all, they've got the guy that did it. And he certainly didn't kill anyone. Tim Bass says he's innocent and that he had a secret that explains everything. Malone, who was still Bass wife at this point, initially gave him an alibi, which she later rescinded, telling police that he asked her to lie for him and she couldnt tell the truth until she felt safe. But now, police decided to pay Bass a visit at home. Kevin Bowhay: I would say that wooded area ahead of us is where I believe she was abducted. He remains in custody. Anything that would have called attention to Tim Bass? The community was repeatedly asked for assistance solving this case, Elfo said last December, according to a video. Crime in Acme, Washington Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Acme violent crime is 16.4. Bowhay says her assailant had to be in a vehicle. Kevin Bowhay: By weapon, that's what they used to gain to control of her. 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. Timothy Forest Bass must never be allowed to walk the earth as a free person. Follow the links to read about more horrific murders profiled on 20/20 on ID. The prosecution expert, the original medical examiner from 30 years ago, Dr. Gary Goldfogel, disagrees. 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 By 2009, he was the lead investigator on this unsolved case. Mary Stavik spent years haunted by the murder of her daughter Mandy, and the lack of progress in the case. For Mary Stavik, who once thought she'd never see justice, Bass' sentence gave her some solace. A jury convicted Timothy Bass in the killing of a Whatcom County teenager in 1989. That just happened.'. Peter Van Sant: Why did you stay with him? is 6.0%). Friends of Mandy described him as a loner and an oddball. He had moved out of the area a couple of months after the murder. The case has captivated the community for more than a generation. It was it was agonizing As hard as it was, I I knew I had to do it. But Malone stuck with Tim and had three children with him. Mandy Stavik's family had come from Alaska. Kevin Bowhay: They looked at it like, "No, it wouldn't be this family because They're well-liked in the community." On May 24, 2019, a jury convicted Bass of murder in the first degree. He didn't kidnap anyone. In 1989, a beautiful, athletic, and intelligent young woman named Mandy Stavik went missing while out on a run in her home of Whatcom County, Washington. [laughs]. Peter Van Sant: And what? They charged him with kidnapping, rape and murder. It was June 2013. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. Gerber said after Sather gave Mulryan money, Mulryan yelled at him to drive away. TOM BASS [on witness stand]: He said that the cops are lying, everyone's out to get him. "And I just kind of turned to Merrilee and said, 'Well, I am sure I know who killed her," Heather Backstrom says. Kyra, her German shepherd, bolted off with her. Det. But talking to each other at the water park decades later, they finally felt compelled to say his name out loud. She was the girl that they found on the river." 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. 20/20 on ID airs at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery. According to ABC News, when authorities began investigating Bass, his wife at the time, Gina Malone, told them he was very controlling and that he also loved to watch true crime shows and say that he wouldnt be stupid enough to get caught.. Tim got married young, at 22, just six weeks after Mandy's murder. The DNA was at the heart of Tim Bass' trial. For the last year, Basss lawyers have tussled with the state in court, arguing that the DNA match to Ms Stavik was the result of an illegal search. Um, oh, yeah. Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates Cities with similar population An autopsy report was expected today on Amanda Stavik, 18. Police arrested Timothy in December 2017 after his DNA matched with the DNA found on Mandy . The suspected shooter of a double homicide in Tacoma, Washington, could be responsible for a third deadly shooting nearby, Fox13 reported . Mike and Molly Brighton and Mary Stavik await the verdict. Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Acme violent crime is 16.4. It doesn't . Peter Van Sant: As you're about to take the stand, what's going through your mind? Acme Neighborhood Map. He didn't rape anyone. The Staviks' home was on a dead-end street, a mile from the highway. I got a restraining order and left for two months. Kevin Bowhay: They got a warrant and got his DNA and he was ruled out. Jim Freeman was Mandy's high school basketball coach and gave the eulogy at her memorial service, attended by nearly a thousand people. The conversation shifted to the Stavik murder. July 18, 2020 / 11:04 PM Dave McEachran [emotional]: She was such a good kid it just shouldn't have happened. Kim Wagner: And I asked if her family knew. Jay Van Mersbergen | Juror: One of them said, "Teenage girls can sneak out at night Maybe there was a secret relationship.". Both Backstrom and Anderson who barely knew each other held long suspicions about the same man. COST OF LIVING Compared to the rest of the country, Acme's cost of living is 8.0% higher than the U.S. average. Bass was, by then, married and working as a driver at a bakery. Several of Mandys friends had been talking about the case amongst themselves and came with Basss name. Kevin Bowhay: We needed some answers. Bass was found guilty of first-degree murder on May 24, 2019. He kept to himself, and, for the most part, worked and came home. In Tim Bass, detectives believed they had their killer. Please enter valid email address to continue. Det. Robert John Bardo traveled from his home in Arizona to West Hollywood to kill the actress in cold blood in a crime that shocked Hollywood. I just never forgot about Mandy. Mandy Stavik was a beloved daughter, sister and friend in her freshman year of college when she was murdered. Det. The database acts as a central repository for detailed information on violent crimes occurring Acme, Washington has good air quality 84.0% of the time or 306 days per year. It's just she accomplished a lot in the short time that she was here. Peter Van Sant: What happened in terms of the investigation? I thought that it was kind of obvious that they had used an intermediary to collect evidence against Bass in an area where they were previously prohibited from getting evidence themselves, which violated a fundamental privacy interest, Basss attorney told the Herald. The closest similar sized city with FBI crime data is the city of , . But it's a big leap between thinking you have your man and convicting him in a court of law. Peterson, and so many others in the small community of Acme, Washington, are still emotional even 30 years later. His brother Tom took the stand. Unemployment in Acme is very high and the median home sales price is $0. Det. Ken Gates [pointing at house]: He lived right in this house right here. JUDGE OLSON: If you would like the opportunity, now is the time. She understood. Gina Malone: He said, "I just want to let you know I slept with Mandy." Sheriff Bill Elfo told ABC News that that shot Bass to the top of the suspect list. ", Det. And Tom Bass describes another damning incident after Tim was arrested. And I said, "Well, yes." Kevin Bowhay: So, when they did the autopsy, they were able to recover male DNA from Mandy. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. It's November 27, 1989. ", Det. I do know my son is not guilty of this crime. She went for a run the day after Thanksgiving, taking a very regular route that she often took. Merrilee Anderson: And I just said that I knew that it was Tim. Tom Bass: Very competitive. the age-adjusted homicide rate to no higher than 5.5 per 100,000. In July 1991, she was at home one night with her young son when she heard a knock on the door. None matched. Tim Bass could be eligible for parole in 24 years. Who's been talked to?". The Whatcom County Sheriffs Office has identified another man wanted in a planned robbery that ended in the death of a woman in Acme over the weekend. Kim Wagner: You just never knew what Tim was gonna be at work that day. Heather Backstrom: He would talk about my eyes and say that my eyes were beautiful. Police were hoping Bass would throw away an item with DNA on it, but no luck. Acme Map Acme is a census-designated place (CDP) in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. Out of the blue, one of the other mothers brought up the name Mandy Stavik. Peter Van Sant: Any criminal record? Gina Malone: It didn't feel like a marriage. She says the semen could have been deposited up to two days before Mandy's death. ELIZABETH JOHNSON [on witness stand]: I would say most consistent is hours to days and probably within up to 48 hours. ACME, Wash. (AP) _ A college student who disappeared while jogging alone was found dead in a riverbed three days later after a search by neighbors and residents of this small Northwest town. He was not originally a suspect in 1989, according to Elfo. 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. The same went for information on his routes. Thank you, you're the greatest. I wouldnt get caught because Im not that stupid, he allegedly told his wife, the Herald reported. 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. Wendy Aughe was 29 when she went missing in 1987. She divorced Tim after his arrest and claims about his affair with Mandy. Det. When the three arrived, they parked behind a white truck with three men inside and Sather got out with $250 to purchase drugs, according to court records. When Mandy jogged with her dog, the route that she would take would take her past Timothy Basss residence.. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Gina Malone: Guilty as hell. Later that day, the sheriff came knocking on Mary Stavik's door. All dead ends. And his employer, Franz Bakery, would not voluntarily allow investigators to swab for a sample without a warrant or subpoena. Some schools closed, others delayed, City to buy 12 acres to expand this trail and park on Bellinghams north side, Man indicted for allegedly embezzling $25,000 from Lummi Nation store, Man arrested after allegedly raping Bellingham victims he met via a dating app, Whatcom man held in attack on woman in rural neighborhood, Suspect rammed Whatcom patrol car and fled. The lowest monthly average temperature in Acme for December is 38.5 degrees. Deputies interviewed various persons of interest, including Mandy's boyfriend Rick Zender. Read More . April 04, 2020 10:47 PM. Mandy Stavik was a bright and gregarious young woman. "I'm going to lie to the judge and get the kids taken away from you" anything with my kids, I'm just like, OK. And she was. Later, a detective called back, asking if Bass ever ate food at work. However, after hearing each other's stories, Anderson decided to talk to police. He had just recently been trained by the FBI on recovering DNA. 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. Belinda Temple from Katy, Texas, appeared to have a bright future. Would love your thoughts, please comment. And that he had always been in love with me. Points the gun at her says "Get in," that point she's compliant. Her body was later discovered in a nearby river. In 2013, investigators went to Bass workplace, a bakery outlet store, in the hopes of obtaining a DNA sample from his delivery truck. Peter Van Sant: It's a solemn place for you isn't it? Do the right thing, do the right thing.". Peter Van Sant: You hear those words. Kim Wagner: The Tim Bass I knew, he was different. Something doesnt, No , the murder happened in Ohio . (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. All that promise came to an abrupt end in 1989, when the college freshman came home from Central Washington University for Thanksgiving. Im disappointed at the appellate courts decision, his attorney told the Herald. In saying that, though, the better man in me says I should say very little today and give this day to the Stavik family. Kevin Bowhay: Yeah. Det. First published on November 30, 2019 / 11:11 PM. She secretly grabbed both, put them in a Franz Bakery bag and handed them over to police. Wagner came up with a plan to help police get the DNA they needed to connect Bass to the crime. Det. Starck Follis: That's exactly what I'm saying. Do you live in Acme, Washington? Mary Stavik: Definitely closure, I feel. Her case would go cold for decades, until two moms at a waterpark decided to take action. 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. Over 30 years ago, teenager Amanda Mandy Stavik disappeared while out for a run in her rural Washington town. Case closed? Heather Backstrom: We decided, a bunch of us, to go to Dairy Queen. Anderson contacted another Mount Baker High graduate Detective Ken Gates. The closest similar sized city with FBI crime data is the city of , . WEATHER & CLIMATE 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? Peter Van Sant: And what are you feeling at this moment? Kevin Bowhay: We got the right guy. Det. There are 2 public schools in Acme with an average Homefacts rating of D+. The highest monthly average temperature in Acme for July is 63.3 degrees. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office has identified another man wanted in a planned robbery that ended in the death of a woman in Acme over the weekend. Peter Van Sant: So, take me back. Prosecutor Dave McEachran: The harm that this caused is incalculable. Although no one testified to ever seeing Tim Bass and Mandy together, juror Ed Beaman says they had a lot to discuss. Where are we right now? She returned to her hometown of Acme, Washington, for Thanksgiving break. Acme is a tiny town down Highway 9 in Washington State's Whatcom County. But following Basss arrest, his attorneys attempted to have the DNA evidence thrown out because they argue the search violated his Fourth Amendment rights. 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. Gerber said Mulryan asked him for a ride to the park in Acme so Mulryan could meet with a girl who had apparently done something to him in the past, court records state. 20/20 airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Merrilee Anderson: I hear the "beep, beep, beep, we're sorry" when you call on the phone and it's disconnected, so I thought, "OK, something's up.". And, so, this time my heart was like, "Ohh." I was "every juror, please do the right thing. and I says, "Who?" It was such a relief. Tim Bass, along with his brother and father, had never been asked to give a DNA sample. By Denver Pratt. Kim Wagner: My gut said it was him and my heart said it wasn't, because I just didn't really want to think that we all were betrayed. If it was her girl who had been viciously killed, she wondered, wouldn't she want someone to do whatever they could? Bakery manager helps catch a killer: "It's game time". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Gina Malone: I married him basically to get away from home. Timothy Bass killed Mandy Stavik in Acme Washington. Runnin' through the blackberries.". As the jury in the Mandy Stavik case deliberated, the hours felt like an eternity. Tom Bass: I think potentially more could've been his next victims. She alleged in court filings that he was both physically and verbally abusive to her and their three children. Kim Wagner: It really took a village. 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. Mulryan and OKeefe are suspected of being involved in the homicide of 21-year-old Darian D. Sather of Sedro Woolley. Investigators became very interested in Timothy Bass; however, he refused to take a DNA test claiming that he didnt trust the police. Tips poured in and deputies checked them out. Powered by. Kim Wagner, part of that trio of women, credits Mandy's hometown of Acme. The case went cold, and the murder hung like a dark cloud over this community for the next two decades. During an interview with investigators, Gerber said he met up with Mulryan at a friends house. Det. The police were again circling the Franz Bakery Outlet in the spring of 2017, hungry for information, and now she knew why. When asked about Mandy, Bass pretended he didn't even remember her. Bowhay]: How many times you driven this road? December 15, 2022 1:30 am. During the investigation, Bass claimed it was because he and Stavik had been having a secret relationship, but the only person who could have corroborated those claims was Bass father, who had died. 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. Paul Snider allegedly killed two men near 80th and . Molly Brighton: It was such a relief. She wanted to do well in everything she did. I felt like I went into prison, actually. 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Put simply, law enforcement officers cannot use private citizens to obtain evidence without a search warrant where a search warrant would otherwise be required, the defence wrote in one motion filed in August, the Herald reported. He says various indicators say it was much sooner. Never ever. Det. And she says, "I can get it for you. DAVE MCEACHRAN | PROSECUTOR: This was not a situation where there was consensual sex. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. And I had hoped, at that point, the family could heal. (The US average is 22.7) Acme property crime is 50.0. Investigators believe the attacker had kicked the dog into a ditch before abducting Mandy, and then sexually assaulted her about 5 miles away from where she was jogging. Kevin Bowhay: From there, it was you always look for that person that's strange or odd that doesn't quite fit into the community. Tim basically took his trash home, Det. Peter Van Sant: And you were just watching your kids coming down the waterslide? You're 15 years old. Six weeks later, it was time for sentencing. ''All these terrible things, all you can think is it doesn't happen to you. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. In fact, he was sentenced to around 27 years of imprisonment. Hours later, the dog returned home, but Ms Stavik did not. Tim had fired into the air. The community could feel safe and be whole again. #2020 #MandyStavik #30YearsSearching #Crime #Murder #Washington #TimBass #DNA #Evidence #MissingPerson #SexualAssault #ABCNews #Investigation #DNAEvidence #ABC2020 #Documentary STREAM MORE EPISODE OF 2020, College student Mandy Stavik found dead, but case goes cold for years I Nightline, Stavik, who was from a rural town in Washington, was missing for three days before her body was found. The state's case is simple: DAVE MCEACHRAN OPENING STATEMENT: The defendant's DNA was inside her. With a population of 229 people and just one neighborhood, Acme is the 319th largest community in Washington.