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You are here: Home / Cold Case News / A break in Bastian-Welch cases

A break in Bastian-Welch cases

April 9, 2016 By Alice

Bastian-Welch
Jennifer Bastian (L) and Michella Welch (R)

A break in the Bastian and Welch cases as Tacoma Police has released sketches based on DNA evidence in these cold cases.

Jennifer was 13 years old when she went missing. According to the papers, Jennifer wanted to ride her bike 30 blocks to the park and then go back home. She was training for a YMCA bicycle tour of Lopez Island. When Jennifer did not return home later that evening, her family called the police.

Jennifer’s body was found 28 days later by a group of joggers near the Five Mile Drive. She had been raped and strangled. Police found DNA near her body and submitted about 30 cheek swabs of potential suspects to the lab for comparison.

Jennifer’s case used to be linked to the Michella Welch murder. Michella’s remains had been found four months earlier in the ravine of another Tacoma park. Michella was 12 years old when she disappeared in March 1986. She too had been on a bike and on her way home to care for her sisters. Police found her body the same night.

Bastian suspect based on DNA
Bastian suspect based on DNA
Welch suspect based on DNA
Welch suspect based on DNA

As we know now, Jennifer Bastian and Michella Welch were not murdered by the same person.

Based on the DNA evidence sketches were made and show the wanted men in detail.

I have made screenshots and placed the suspects next to each other. If you click on the images they should enlarge. If not, please let me know.

Please take a look and watch the clip. If you recognize these men or have have information about the Bastian-Welch cases please call the Tacoma police at 253-591-5968.

Thank you.

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: DNA, Jennifer Marie Bastian, Michella Welch, Tacoma

Reader Interactions

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  1. Arrest in 1986 Bastian case - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    August 25, 2018 at 1:55 pm

    […] In 2013, detectives with the Tacoma Police Department’s cold case unit released what they thought was the killer’s profile. It resulted in over 60 new tips in the case. DNA was run through a national database of felons, but didn’t match any the 11 million plus DNA profiles in the database. The case was also explored by a panel of experts at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. In 2016, the authorities released a suspect image based on DNA phenotyping. […]

  2. Phenotyping and Cold Cases - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    January 23, 2017 at 5:03 am

    […] other cases where this technology could make a difference are the cases of Jennifer Bastian and Michella Welch. Jennifer’s case used to be linked to the Michella Welch murder. As we know now, Jennifer […]

  3. Kylie Maria Antonia Maybury - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    June 9, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    […] There is a DNA profile that is used to eliminate old suspects and to scan databases in search of a match. I hope that the Australian authorities take their cue from the American Jennifer Bastian – Michela Welch murders. […]

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Dina Fort

Author Notes

On this website, I write about old, unsolved cases. Most are from the pre-DNA era and are in need of renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to the professionals.

My posts are about homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book.

My database has over 325 cases listed by the victim’s last name. You will find a brief description there as well. The database will always be free to the public to use. You cannot buy ad space on my website, ever.

All writing suggestions that come in by email are added to my to-do list in the order in which they were received. Please be patient. My to-do list is very long but no case gets dropped and I will get back in touch.

Defrosting Cold Cases is NOT an organization. It is my brainchild.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the about page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you still cannot find the answer there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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If you use my work, please add a link back. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. Thank you!

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Copyright: Please add a link back if you use my work. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. If you need help with this, just contact me. Thank you, Alice de Sturler

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