10/03/2024
Acme, Washington was a community where doors were left unlocked, and safety was a given. But all it took was one tragic event to shatter that illusion. On a fateful day in 1989, Mandy Stavic went for a jog with her dog and never returned. Her disappearance gripped Acme, Washington, with fear. Join us as we delve into a tale of heartbreak, resilience, and the power of community. After decades of uncertainty, two women's conversation at a water park sparks a breakthrough, leading to the arrest of a suspect nobody suspected: Timothy Forrest Bass. Discover the twists and turns in this gripping story that took 29 years to unfold, bringing justice to a grieving family and closure to a community haunted by the loss of innocence.
On November 27th, 1989, a police detective navigating a river in his Zodiac boat spots something pink, which turns out to be Mandy Stavik’s body wearing only her running shoes. Emotionally affected as a father, the Detective quietly lifts her out of the water. The community of Acme, Washington still feels the emotional weight of Mandy's death even after 30 years, mourning not just her loss but also the loss of innocence in their tight-knit community.
Mandy's high school basketball coach, who delivered the eulogy at her memorial service attended by nearly a thousand people describes Mandy as someone who radiated joy and love for life, both on and off the basketball court. The Coach had become a father figure to Mandy after her parents' divorce, and she expressed her deep admiration for him in a card, thanking him for his inspiration and influence in her life. Mandy was a standout student and athlete, excelling in basketball, cheer-leading, and academics. Her mother, Mary, reflects on Mandy's ambition and drive to excel in everything she pursued. Mandy's older sister, Molly Brighton, remembers her as someone larger than life, who made a significant impact on their lives in the short time she was alive.
Mandy, a college freshman, returned home for Thanksgiving from Central Washington University. After a family meal, she went for a jog with her German Shepherd.
based on witness accounts She started jogging from her house and ran westbound towards the west side of the Strand Road. The last person to see Mandy alive was a man in a pickup truck, and she ran past him heading towards her home. Detectives believes she was abducted in a wooded area ahead, about an eighth of a mile from where she was last seen.
According to detectives Mandy’s assailant likely used a vehicle because she was too fast of a runner to be caught on foot. Authorities speculates that the abductor used a gun to gain control over her, forcing her into a vehicle. Investigators believe the assailant kicked Mandy's dog into a ditch before s*xually assaulting her at a location about three and a half miles away from where she was jogging. Signs of struggle, such as scratches on her arms and legs, indicate she attempted to flee through blackberry bushes. Detective Peterson, trained by the FBI in DNA recovery, recognized the importance of preserving evidence and carefully extracted Mandy's body from the river where she was found.
A male DNA was recovered from Mandy during her autopsy, indicating a s*xual assault. The investigation intensified as authorities sought out individuals who seemed out of place in the community. Tips flooded in, leading deputies to investigate numerous suspects, including David Suchi, a local drifter spotted in the area on the day of the incident. Despite obtaining DNA samples from approximately 30 local men, including Mandy's boyfriend, Rick Zender, none matched the DNA found on Mandy. The case went cold, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over the community for the next two decades.
Nearly 25 years after Mandy Stavik's murder, a new suspect emerged from her own neighborhood, someone previously off the radar. Mary Stavik, Mandy's mother, had been haunted by the lack of progress in the case. Detective Kevin Bowie, who attended the same high school as Mandy, had never given up. In 2009, he became the lead investigator, meticulously reviewing old leads and suspects. One such suspect was John Wisniewski, a local drug dealer who had mentioned knowing about Mandy's murder. Although his DNA didn't match the crime scene, Bowie felt compelled to speak with him again. In 2010, Bowie traveled to Cambodia, where Wisniewski now lived, to question him. Despite Wisniewski's denial, Bowie suspected him of lying. However, without concrete evidence, it seemed like another dead end.
Three years later, in June 2013, a tip from two mothers chatting at a water park led the Sheriff's Office in a new direction. Heather Backstrom and Marilee Anderson, both alumni of Mount Baker High School, shared their suspicions about a man named Tim Bass. Despite never reporting their concerns to law enforcement due to fear and the small-town atmosphere, they finally confided in each other. Both women had unsettling encounters with Bass, which they exchanged at the water park. Heather recalled an incident in 1989 where Bass made inappropriate comments and gestures towards her, while Marilee recounted a disturbing encounter in July 1991.
She said One night, while at home with her young son, Tim Bass knocked on her door. He asked to use the phone, claiming he had been hunting all day and wanted to call his wife. When she handed him the phone, it was disconnected. Tim then made advances towards her, expressing his feelings and desires for her. Feeling terrified, she demanded he leave, but he refused until she threatened to call the police. After the incident, she contacted Detective Ken Gates, suspecting Tim of being involved in Mandy's death.
Tim Bass lived in a house less than two miles from Mandy's residence along her running route in 1989-1990. Authorities never questioned the Bass family extensively due to their favorable reputation in the community. Tim, along with his brother and father, had never been asked for a DNA sample in the past 25 years. He led a quiet life, married with three children, working as a delivery truck driver for a bakery without any criminal record. After the 2 women’s conversation at the water park, Police decided to approach him non-threateningly, but Tim initially pretended not to remember Mandy. When asked for a saliva sample for DNA testing, he refused, citing concerns from crime shows about innocent people being imprisoned due to DNA evidence.
In an effort to advance their investigation, the police implemented a new strategy, deciding to conduct surveillance on Tim Bass and follow him along his bakery delivery route. Despite following him all day and night, they were unable to obtain any incriminating evidence. However, the investigation received an unexpected boost when someone offered determined assistance. After 24 years without progress, police finally identified Tim Bass as a prime suspect. Bass lived near Mandy Stavic, and investigators speculated that he might have fixated on her during her regular jogging routes past his house. Although Mandy didn't typically jog by his residence on the day she vanished, police were intrigued by Bass's behavior. They learned from his brother Tom that Tim had exhibited troubling behavior since adolescence, including a concerning incident involving a gun following a breakup. Those close to Tim noticed his changing attitude towards women, indicating a deep-seated misogyny.
Tim Bass married Gina Malone shortly after Mandy's murder, but their marriage was far from ideal, marked by control and emotional abuse. Despite enduring mistreatment, Gina stayed with Tim out of fear for her safety and concern for their children. She even obtained a restraining order and started divorce proceedings at one point, but Tim threatened to lie to the judge to take their children away, compelling Gina to stay.
Detectives believed Tim was the killer but conducted a DNA sweep of other potential suspects to be thorough. Investigators collected DNA samples from three dozen more men but Tim refused to cooperate. Investigators turned to his boss, Kim Wagner, who assisted the investigation by providing potential DNA samples from Tim. Kim observed Tim's behavior closely and after 3 months eventually collected a plastic cup and a Coke can Tim had discarded, suspecting they might contain his DNA. After months of waiting for lab results, they received confirmation of a match, implicating Tim Bass in Mandy's murder.
The moment of hearing the words confirming the DNA match felt surreal, akin to a dream that might shatter any moment. Tears flowed as the significance of the revelation sank in—it was the most significant event in memory. Tim Bass, confronted with the evidence, initially denied any relationship with Mandy but later questioned how his DNA was obtained. On December 12, 2017, 28 years after Mandy's death, police arrested Tim Bass who was 50 years by then, charging him with kidnapping, r**e, and murder. The arrest brought a mix of emotions—relief, disbelief, and overwhelming feelings for Mandy's family. Despite asserting his innocence and claiming a secret relationship with Mandy, the prosecution pursued the case vigorously.
73 year-old retired prosecutor Dave McEachran came out of retirement to prosecute this case at no charge to make sure Mandy and her family got justice.
The trial of Mandy's alleged killer commences with the state presenting a straightforward case: the defendant's DNA was found inside her, indicating kidnapping, r**e, and murder. However, the defense Team argues Tim Bass's innocence, suggesting Mandy and Bass had consensual s*x before her murder. They claim evidence of s*xual contact does not prove r**e. Bass himself alleges a secret affair with Mandy, which the defense seeks to substantiate with science. Witness testimony, including that of Kim Wagner who retrieved DNA evidence, becomes crucial in the courtroom battle.
Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, a forensic expert, testified that the semen found could have been deposited up to two days before Mandy's death, contrary to the original medical examiner's opinion. Gina, Bass's ex-wife, testified, recounting Bass's attempts to manipulate his family into providing false alibis. Tom, Bass's brother, also testified, revealing Bass's desperate attempts to fabricate an alibi after his arrest. Despite the defense's attempts to explain Bass's behavior, the prosecution emphasized the DNA evidence and the lack of evidence supporting consensual s*x. As the trial concluded, both sides made final appeals to the jury, highlighting the significance of the DNA evidence in determining Bass's guilt or innocence.
After two weeks of trial and hours of deliberation, the jury in the Mandy Stavic case grappled with the evidence, considering the possibility of a secret relationship between Tim Bass and Mandy. Despite the absence of direct witnesses to their interaction, the jurors meticulously reviewed the details. One of the jurors, described the process akin to becoming investigators and attorneys themselves. Ultimately, after a day of deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous decision: Timothy Forrest Bass was found guilty of murder, r**e, and kidnapping. This verdict, delivered 29 years and six months after Mandy's death, brought a profound sense of relief to her family and friends.
Bass got maximum sentence, nearly 27 years in prison. He couldn’t get life in prison mainly because prosecutors weren’t sure they could convict him of premeditated murder.
The victim's family expresses relief that justice has been served, though they acknowledge that the harm caused is immeasurable. They express a desire for the defendant to never be released from prison.
