SPANAWAY: Chris Virdell

Welcome back to Washed Away, a podcast that breathes new life into Washington State’s coldest cases. On this episode I’ll be giving you some updates on a few of the cases you’ve already heard about on the show: Mary Anderson, Tom Wales, Helen Doe, Sofia Juarez, and more. To view sources for this episode, please visit washedawaypodcast.com.

I was recently invited to take a tour of the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office and I got to interview investigator, Jane Jorgensen. We talked about the details of her job, Snohomish County’s unidentified and recently identified cases, and how much of a role genealogy plays in finding out who someone was. You’ll hear a lot of names, dates, and locations on this special episode as we try to bring more attention to folks who either still need help to solve the mystery of who they were or to help figure out who killed them. Welcome to Washed Away.

On the morning of February 9th, 2012, a teenager disappeared on his way to work in Spanaway, Washington. He left behind no clues, no witnesses, and no answers for what would be two very long years. His own parents would have to turn into detectives to try and find him because no one else would. And this tragic case will end with not one, but two shocking and senseless murders. Paul and Melanie Virdell share their son's story with me on this infuriating episode of Washed Away. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com

On a January night in 1986, a young mother and her daughter were strangled to death in their Bremerton home. Over the years several persons of interests would be looked at for taking their lives and this case would be re-examined each decade that it remained cold. But on this episode of Washed Away, Detective Martin Garland tells me the murders of Nikki Anderson and Adrienne Hale are now closer than ever to being solved. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com

It’s no secret that nature is one of the things people love the most about the Pacific Northwest. And the outdoors are supposed to be a peaceful place, where you can go to clear your head and escape from the real world. So when two avid hikers, who spent a lot of their time outdoors, were seemingly executed on a trail in 2006, it was a harsh reality check for people here in Washington State. And it was a complete nightmare for the victims’ family. On this episode of Washed Away, I’m covering the unsolved murders of mother and daughter, Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden. Plus David Stodden tells me about his loved ones and Josh Hallmark from True Crime BS shares insight from his coverage of serial killer, Israel Keyes. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com (CW: Murder)

1994 was a year that would forever change the city of Seattle. From the suicide of Kurt Cobain to the launch of Amazon dot com, it was a uniquely important year that would go down in the city’s history books and news archives. But something else happened that year that most people haven’t heard about… until now. On this episode of Washed Away, I’m covering the tragic kidnapping and murder of 14 year old Tanya Frazier. And I'm joined by Tanya's loved ones: Teara Frazier and Sherry Mammoser. (CW: Murder, Sexual Assault)

There’s an unsolved murder that took place almost 3,000 miles away from Washington State and yet it remains linked to this part of the country because of a cult TV show from the 90s. This special episode of Washed Away for the North Bend Film Festival is all about Hazel Drew, the woman whose mysterious death was used as inspiration for Twin Peaks.

Gary Ridgway AKA the Green River Killer murdered women in Washington state from 1982 to 1998, but possibly could have continued killing until 2001 when he was finally apprehended. Ridgway confessed to 71 murders but was only prosecuted for 49. So who are these other 22 victims? A local true crime researcher has put together an extensive list of murdered, missing, and unidentified women to try and figure that out. On this episode of Washed Away we’ll be talking about the unknown victims of the Green River Killer. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com

The case I’m covering on this episode of Washed Away comes from Tacoma, Washington and involves a missing little girl, a DNA scavenger hunt, and a possible serial killer suspect. Oh and this case has been cold for almost 6 decades. Let me tell you about the disappearance of Ann Marie Burr. Plus retired detective Lindsey Wade not only discusses her work on this mystery, but also how she managed to track down Ted Bundy's DNA. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com 

A teenager from Tumwater woke up one morning, told his grandmother he had an epiphany, and then seemingly vanished off the face of the earth. He left behind his phone and wallet and soon his car was spotted several times on I-5, sometimes parked on the side of the road, but eventually drifting across several lanes of traffic. On this episode of Washed Away, I’m gonna tell you about one of the strangest missing persons cases that Washington state has seen in a long time. What the heck happened to Logan Schiendelman? James Baysinger from Hide and Seek provides insight from his investigation. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com