Live in Washington State? If so, we have some disturbing news.
According to Project Cold Case, you have only a 71% chance of your murder being solved in Washington State. Eek!
Out of Washington’s homicide cases from 1965 to 2019, a whopping 28% of these cases (3,000 cases!) are currently unsolved. About half of these unsolved cases are in King County. There are thousands of murder and missing persons cases that are still unsolved in Washington state. Here are five of the more well-known cold cases in the State of Washington and some podcast episodes that cover them:
Nancy Moyer: Nancy Moyer, a resident of Tenino, Washington, disappeared under mysterious circumstances in March 2009. The 36-year-old mother of two was last seen at her home, and her disappearance sparked an extensive investigation. Despite exhaustive efforts by law enforcement, including searches of nearby areas and interviews with acquaintances, Nancy Moyer’s whereabouts remain unknown, and her case remains unsolved. Over the years, there have been sporadic developments and leads, but none have led to conclusive answers about her disappearance. Her family continues to seek closure and justice, hoping for a breakthrough that will shed light on what happened to Nancy on that fateful day.
🎧 Listen About It: Hide and Seek Podcast (Season 1)
Karen Bodine: Karen Bodine, a 37-year-old woman from Mount Vernon, Washington, was found deceased in a wooded area near Sedro-Woolley in January 2007. Her body was discovered by a passerby, and her death was ruled a homicide. The investigation into Bodine’s murder spanned years, with authorities conducting interviews and pursuing leads in an effort to uncover the circumstances surrounding her death. Despite ongoing efforts, no arrests have been made in connection with her murder. The case remains open, and Bodine’s family continues to seek justice for her untimely and tragic death.
🎧 Listen About It: Addicted to Crime Podcast
Misty Copsey: Misty Copsey disappeared from Puyallup, Washington, on September 17, 1992. The 14-year-old was last seen at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, and despite extensive searches and investigations, her whereabouts remain unknown. The case remains open, and her family continues to seek closure and answers.
🎧 Listen About It: Crime Junkie Podcast
Lindsey Baum: Lindsey Baum vanished without a trace on June 26, 2009, while walking home from a friend’s house in McCleary, Washington. Despite extensive searches and widespread media coverage, no significant leads have emerged in the case, leaving Lindsey’s fate and whereabouts unknown.
🎧 Listen About It: True Crime Bullsh**
Logan Schiendelman: Logan Schiendelman, a 19-year-old man from Tumwater, Washington, went missing under mysterious circumstances in May 2016. He was last seen driving his car on Interstate 5 near Olympia, Washington, but vanished without a trace. Despite extensive searches and public appeals for information, no sign of Logan or his vehicle was found for several years. In May 2020, four years after his disappearance, Logan’s car was discovered submerged in a ravine off the highway, with human remains found inside. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Logan Schiendelman, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. His case remains unresolved, leaving his family and loved ones seeking answers and closure.
🎧 Listen About It: Hide and Seek Podcast (Season 2)
According to the Murder Accountability Project, there has been an overall decline in the national homicide clearance rate. In other words, less cold cases are being solved…nationwide. In the mid 1960s, the homicide clearance rate was around 90%. In 2020, the homicide clearance rate was around 50%.
So, it’s clearly a national problem, but Washington isn’t exempt.
That’s not to say that the State of Washington isn’t trying. The Snohomish County Sheriff Office Cold Case Unit created a deck of playing cards featuring a local cold case and distributed them to local inmates.
So, all this being said…stay vigilant! Look both ways, don’t walk alone at night, and make sure you always share your location with someone if you’re going somewhere unfamiliar. We Washingtonians need to stick together!
