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You are here: Home / Archives for Tacoma

Tacoma

Update Teekah Lewis

May 24, 2025 By Alice

age progression Teekah Lewis

There has been renewed media attention for the Teekah Latres Lewis case, the toddler who went missing from a Tacoma bowling center in 1999. This article, click here, gives a very good overview of the case, where we are now, and why there was renewed activity in the case. Unfortunately, nothing was found to advance […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Missing Persons Tagged With: missing child, Tacoma, Teekah Latres Lewis, Washington

Michella Welch: Guilty Verdict

March 23, 2022 By Alice

Michella Welch

Gary Charles Hartman has been found guilty in the 1986 rape-murder of Michella Welch. Hartman was around 30 years old when he attacked Welch (12) who got “separated from her sisters while they were visiting a North Tacoma park.” Her body was found in a ravine. She had been sexually assaulted and was beaten to […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Michella Welch, Tacoma, Washington

Sentence in 1986 Jennifer Bastian murder

January 27, 2019 By Alice

Jennifer Marie Bastian

Robert D. Washburn was sentenced to 27 years in prison after he pled guilty to the 1986 first-degree murder of Jennifer Marie Bastian (13) in Tacoma, Washington. Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Martin gave him a 320-month sentence: a month for every year the Bastian family was robbed of their beloved. Washburn must serve a minimum […]

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

Guilty plea expected in 1986 Bastian murder

January 18, 2019 By Alice

Jennifer Marie Bastian

The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office reports that Robert Dwane Washburn’s attorney asked for an appointment to change his client’s plea. “The expectation would be that Washburn changes his plea to guilty on January 25 at 1:30 pm.” No details about a plea agreement are known but Washburn will not face the death penalty if he is […]

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

Arrest in 1986 Bastian case

May 11, 2018 By Alice

Jennifer Marie Bastian

Police have arrested the man who might be responsible for the murder of Jennifer Marie Bastian in 1986. His name is Robert D. Washburn (60) of Eureka, Illinois. Police declined to talk about the suspect, other than to say he lived out-of-state and was taken into custody. Washburn will be taken to Pierce County to […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Jennifer Marie Bastian, phenotyping, Strangulation, Tacoma, Washington

A break in Bastian-Welch cases

April 9, 2016 By Alice

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 […]

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

New details in Bastian-Welch murders

April 2, 2016 By Alice

Jennifer Bastian (L) and Michella Welch (R)

New details in the Bastian-Welch murders have been disclosed in an renewed attempt to solve these cold cases. Last Thursday, Tacoma Police explained that they do not believe anymore that the same man is responsible for both girls’ murders. From the News Tribune: “There are two separate suspects for two separate cases,” police spokeswoman Loretta […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: Jennifer Marie Bastian, Knife Attack, Michella Welch, Strangulation, Tacoma

The cold case of Jennifer Marie Bastian

March 7, 2016 By Alice

Jennifer Bastian (L) and Michella Welch (R)

The cold case of Jennifer Marie Bastian (April 15, 1973 – August 4, 1986) got a boost in 2013 when Tacoma Police (WA) revealed more information to the public. Despite renewed media attention and various tips, the case is still unsolved. Jennifer was 13 years old when she went missing. According to the papers, Jennifer wanted […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Jennifer Marie Bastian, Michella Welch, Tacoma, Washington

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Author Notes

Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

My posts cover homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to unsolved cases.

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Alice de Sturler
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