Only Murders on the Harbor

In this episode of Only Murders on the Harbor, we revisit a decades-old missing persons case from coastal Washington that unfolded during a powerful winter storm. A routine evening quickly turned into a mystery that has remained unsolved for more than forty years. Through timelines, witness accounts, and historical reporting, we explore the events of that night and the questions that still remain.Sources: The Doe Network. (n.d.). Case file: Tyler Jennings Inman. Retrieved May 3, 2026, from https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=157dmwaThe Daily Herald. (1982, December 22). Windstorm turns wrath on county, Sound area. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1028805415/The Spokane Chronicle. (1982, December 22). Search underway for missing toddler. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/567275804/The Columbian. (1982, December 26). Reward offered for missing Aberdeen boy. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/816544251/The Daily Herald. (1982, December 25). Mother tries reward in hunt for missing son. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1028805990/The Kitsap Sun. (1984, May 18). Psychic ‘sees’ boy in river. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/875310667/The News Tribune. (1985, February 1). Milk cartons to be sold in state bearing missing youths’ photos. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/736677134/The Olympian. (2016, December 28). Tyler Inman disappeared 34 years ago. Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/702079259/The Resource Center for Cold Case Missing Children’s Cases. (2019, August 19). Tyler Jennings Inman. https://rcccmcc.com/2019/08/19/35-wam-tyler-jennings-inman/

In the early 1900s, the rivers of Grays Harbor were more than just waterways—they were the center of work, community, and survival. Among those who lived and worked on the water was William “Billy” Charley, a fisherman, father, and one of the most well-known log rollers in the region.Drawing from newspaper accounts, census records, and Quinault Tribal documentation, this episode explores the life of Billy Charley and the events surrounding his death in 1917.On the night of September 1st, Charley was on a fishing boat in the Hoquiam River with another man. What began as an evening of drinking ended in a physical altercation—one that would later become the focus of a criminal case in Grays Harbor County.The historical record provides a general outline of what happened that night, but leaves important questions unanswered. With no direct witnesses to the final moments and conflicting details in the accounts that followed, the case would rely heavily on testimony and limited evidence.More than a century later, Billy Charley’s story remains preserved only in fragments—newspaper coverage, census entries, and brief mentions in the historical record—offering a glimpse into both his life and a case that was never fully resolved.Sources: The Tacoma Daily News (October 17–18, 1917); Aberdeen Herald (July 7, 1910); Quinault Tribal census records.

In this episode of Only Murders on the Harbor, we explore the mysterious death of Deputy Sheriff Carlton Mason Stearns, a cold case that has puzzled Grays Harbor County for nearly a century.Born in 1894 in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, Stearns grew up facing tragedy and loss, including the early deaths of several half-sisters. By his teens, he was working in Hoquiam sawmills, later holding jobs in printing, retail, and trucking. In 1914, he married Edna McNamara and settled in Tacoma, building a life and family while rising through local law enforcement ranks.By 1931, Stearns was Chief Criminal Deputy in Grays Harbor County, involved in enforcing Prohibition-era liquor laws and investigating local crimes. On a March night in 1936, he was sent to the remote Copalis Beach to check on thefts and burglaries at vacation homes. Hours later, his body was found on the highway under circumstances that shocked the community: a gunshot wound to the head, evidence of a struggle, and a missing service revolver.Initial reports labeled the killing a murder, yet decades later, unpublished accounts and family manuscripts suggest a far murkier story. Questions remain about what truly happened that night: Was it a targeted attack? Was Stearns’ death connected to his law enforcement work? Or did darker, more personal forces play a role? The truth may never be fully known, but his story endures as one of the Northwest’s oldest unsolved law enforcement mysteries.Today, Stearns is honored as an officer who died in the line of duty, yet the debate over his final moments continues—making this story part history, part legend.📚 SourcesThe Daily Herald, March 10, 1936 — “Deputy Sheriff’s Body is Found in Road at Copalis” https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026097233/?match=1&terms=Carlton%20StearnsThe Olympian, March 18, 1936 — “Award Posted for Deputy’s Slayers” https://www.newspapers.com/image/801902832/?match=1&terms=Carlton%20StearnsThe Tacoma News Tribune, March 11, 1936 — “Mystery in Copalis Death Case Grows” https://www.newspapers.com/image/733396718/?match=1&terms=Carlton%20StearnsOfficer memorial profile: https://behindthebadgefoundation.org/rollcall/stearns-deputy-carlton-m/Anderson, Rick. “The Deputy in the Road” (Seattle Weekly) — historical feature & manuscript analysis

Season Two of Only Murders on the Harbor opens with one of the most disturbing cases to emerge from Grays Harbor County, Washington. This episode examines the life and violence of David Allen Gerard — and the victims whose stories might otherwise have been forgotten.Raised in Aberdeen, Gerard’s early life was marked by instability, isolation, and escalating aggression. Over time, his relationships became increasingly volatile, with a documented history of domestic violence that, in hindsight, revealed a much darker pattern.Throughout the 1980s, several young women disappeared or were found murdered across rural western Washington, including Carin Connor, Connie Rolls, Roberta Strasbaugh, and Tracy West. While none of these cases have been definitively linked to Gerard, similarities in victim profiles, locations, and circumstances continue to raise questions.The episode centers on two of the most brutal killings: Elaine “Brooke” McCollum in 1991 and Carol Leighton in 1996. Both women were last seen in Aberdeen before being found along the same remote logging road. Each case involved extreme, rage-driven violence, and despite extensive investigations, both went cold for years.Everything changed in 1999.After surviving a near-fatal claw hammer attack in a dairy barn, Frankie Cochran identified Gerard as her attacker. Her survival became the turning point investigators needed. At the scene, Detective Lane Youmans recognized a chilling similarity between the attack and the earlier murders — a realization that led him to reopen the cold cases.As forensic technology advanced, DNA evidence linked Gerard to both McCollum and Leighton. Yet legal barriers complicated efforts to fully prosecute him. Gerard ultimately entered an Alford plea in Leighton’s murder and is serving time for the attempted murder of Cochran, but questions remain — particularly in McCollum’s case and others that may be connected.The episode also explores the suspicious 1995 house fire that killed Gerard’s former girlfriend Patty Rodriguez, her two sons, and her mother — a tragedy ruled accidental, but one that continues to raise doubts.At its core, this episode is about persistence and memory — the work of a detective who refused to let these cases fade, and the lives of the victims who deserve to be remembered.In Grays Harbor, the past never truly disappears.SourcesThe Seattle Times (2006). “One-man task force keeps cold cases on front burner.”Seattle Post-Intelligencer / Associated Press (2002). “Police find prisoner’s DNA on 2 murder victims.”The Daily Herald (2002). “DNA evidence revives probe into savage murders.”The Chronicle (2009). “Woman in a Coma After 1999 Beating.”The Lineup (2019). “The Woman Who Was Bludgeoned by a Claw Hammer—And Survived.”HuffPost (2012). “The Devil You Know: Woman Faked Her Death To Survive Boyfriend’s Attack.”Oxygen / The Price of Duty (2018). “Women Murdered on Same Logging Road in Washington.”Archival newspaper records via Newspapers.com (Carin Connor, Connie Rolls, Roberta Strasbaugh, Tracy West, Elaine McCollum)

Between 1905 and 1910, Aberdeen, Washington’s harbor became a place where men vanished and bodies surfaced with unsettling regularity. Newspapers called them “floaters.” Locals whispered darker explanations.In this season finale of Only Murders on the Harbor, we examine the rise and reckoning of William “Billy” Gohl — union leader, labor advocate, and alleged architect of violence along Grays Harbor. As sailors and timber workers disappeared, patterns emerged: disputes over union dues, moonshine debts, and quiet confrontations that ended in silence.This episode focuses on the murder of Charles Hedberg, whose battered body surfaced in 1910, and the disappearance of John Hoffman, last seen after withdrawing a large sum of money. We follow the investigation, the arrest and conviction of John Klingenberg for manslaughter, and the growing belief that Gohl controlled the waterfront through fear, leverage, and ambiguity.Inside the courtroom, witnesses described a man whose power determined who worked, who survived, and who vanished. Though evidence against Gohl was often circumstantial, newspapers estimated his responsibility in as many as 50–60 deaths. Even after convictions and Gohl’s life sentence, the questions never stopped. How many men truly died? How many survived by obedience or luck?Billy Gohl died in prison in 1927, but Aberdeen’s harbor never forgot. His story sits at the intersection of labor history, crime, folklore, and fear — a reminder that water remembers what towns try to bury.Only Murders on the Harbor will return in Season 2 after a short holiday break, exploring other murders and mysteries tied to the waterfront. Until then, remember: the harbor keeps its secrets — until someone dredges them up.Sources UsedAberdeen Herald (1904–1912)San Francisco Call (1906–1910)Los Angeles Herald (1910)The Tacoma Times (1910)The Spokane Press (1910)Goings, Aaron. The Port of Missing Men. University of Washington Press, 2020.Hughes & Beckwith. On the Harbor. Stephens Press, 2005.Lane & Gregg. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Berkley Books, 1995.Morgan, Murray C. The Last Wilderness. University of Washington Press, 1955.Osborn, Andrew. Face Down in the Wishkah. UW Tacoma, 2013.

Step into the fog of early-1900s Aberdeen, Washington—a boomtown of mills, muddy streets, and a harbor crowded with sailors from every corner of the world. In this episode of Only Murders on the Harbor, we explore the rise of William “Billy” Gohl, the Sailors’ Union agent whose power on the waterfront shaped both labor politics and local legend.Part 1 traces Gohl’s early activity in the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, beginning with his participation in the State Federation of Labor conference in Spokane in January 1904, where he represented the needs and grievances of deep-sea workers. By April he was elected as the union’s Aberdeen agent, gaining authority over job dispatching and seafarers’ welfare. His office quickly became the refuge of stranded sailors—and the gatekeeper for every man hoping to work the Grays Harbor ships.But that power bred conflict. Aberdeen’s waterfront was a pressure cooker of rival unions, strikebreakers, labor spies, and restless drifters. Gohl clashed regularly with non-union sailors and company men, appearing in the local courts for fights, threats, and barroom brawls—offenses he typically defended in court and walked away from with fines. He became known for “protecting” his men from wage theft and crooked boarding-house runners, even as rumors spread that he used intimidation as readily as advocacy.And then there were the disappearances. As early as 1905, bodies—often unidentified sailors—began surfacing in the harbor with troubling frequency. Papers referred to them simply as “floaters.” While no evidence at the time linked Gohl to any death, the pattern deepened his legend. Some townspeople insisted he was a fierce defender of working men; others whispered he used the harbor itself as a weapon against enemies. His union authority, legal entanglements, and the rising tide of corpses created a perfect storm of suspicion.Part 1 lays the historical foundation of who Billy Gohl was before his arrest: a skilled labor organizer, a combative political actor, and the most influential figure on Grays Harbor’s unforgiving waterfront. Part 2 will follow his downfall, trial, and the transformation of rumor into enduring Pacific Northwest mythology.Sources:Spokesman Review (Jan 12, 1904); Aberdeen Herald (Apr 11, Jun 3, Jun 16, Jul 11 1904; Oct 2 1905; Feb 1 1906; Jun 11, Jun 14, Jun 18, Jul 12, Aug 23, Aug 27 1906); Seattle Star (Jun 3 1904); Seattle Union Record (Jan 21 1905); Post-Intelligencer (Oct 17 1905; Jun 7 1906); Tacoma Daily Ledger (Jun 5 1906; Jun 19 1906); Spokane Chronicle (Jun 6 1906); and additional Aberdeen and Tacoma articles from 1904–1906 referencing Gohl’s union activities, court cases, and harbor conditions

We follow the case from the night of the murders through multiple trials, appeals, insanity hearings, political battles, and a series of last-minute legal maneuvers that stretched across nearly four decades.Witness testimony, forensic details, and court transcripts reveal a chilling crime scene: ten shots fired from a Savage automatic pistol, brutal stabbings, and survivors who barely escaped with their lives. Prosecutor A. E. Graham painted Grassi as an “arch criminal,” claiming ties to violence in Italy, Chicago, and Tacoma, while Grassi maintained his innocence and insisted he did not remember the murders.Despite a death sentence in 1924, Grassi’s execution was delayed repeatedly by petitions, sanity hearings, and conflicting rulings from multiple courts. Judges, governors, Italian consular officials, and prison doctors all became entangled in the case, which raised landmark questions about insanity, jurisdiction, and the limits of executive clemency.By the 1950s, the story took an unexpected turn: Grassi—now elderly—sought only to return to Italy. A final sanity ruling allowed his sentence to be reinstated so he could legally be considered for a pardon. In 1959, after 36 years behind bars, Governor Albert Rosellini granted that pardon on the condition that Grassi leave the United States and never return.He arrived in Viareggio, Italy, in February 1959, welcomed by family and quietly living out his remaining years. Guido Grassi died in 1961 at the age of 82 — a man still claiming innocence, still haunted by the night that defined his life and the decades that followed.This episode explores justice, myth, memory, and the long shadow of fear that settled over Aberdeen for generations.Sources UsedPrimary Newspaper & Archive Sources:The Aberdeen Daily World (1923–1926) — coverage of the murders, trial testimony, executions stays, and community reactions.The Seattle Times (1950s) — reporting on Grassi’s pardon, sanity hearings, and efforts to return to Italy.The Spokesman-Review — articles on Grassi’s appeals and late-life hearings.The Associated Press — obituary notice and coverage of Grassi’s death in Italy (1961).The Oregonian — regional reporting on legal developments during the 1920s appeals.Court & Legal Records:Grays Harbor County Superior Court transcripts (1923–1926).Washington State Supreme Court rulings regarding Grassi’s appeals and the jurisdictional issues surrounding insanity proceedings.Walla Walla Superior Court filings, including the 1925 and 1926 lunacy commission reports.Government & Institutional Records:Washington State Penitentiary archives, Walla Walla: inmate reports, disciplinary logs, clemency petitions, and communications with governors.Office of Governor Roland H. Hartley — stay of execution records and correspondence on Grassi’s sanity petitions.Office of Governor Albert Rosellini — pardon documentation and conditions for deportation.Italian Consulate correspondence involving Vice-Consul Sam Grosso and Consul Alberto Alfani.

In this episode, Kaydee investigates a chilling case from Grays Harbor County, Washington, in November 1923. A string of brutal murders left a predominantly Italian immigrant community in terror. Central to the chaos was Guido Grassi, a laborer whose reputation for violence earned him the nickname the Cat-Man.The night unfolded with shocking attacks: Joe Tollomi was found shot and slashed in his boarding house, while witnesses were injured, and John Ricci was murdered in a nearby shack. Amid dense fog and eerily silent streets, police scrambled to track the assailant. Survivors described him moving with catlike stealth, carrying a small white sack — a charm believed to render him untouchable.Inside the sack were fragments of what appeared to be a human heart preserved in salt, though Grassi claimed it was a sheep’s heart. Fear of the charm delayed witness cooperation, allowing Grassi to evade justice temporarily. Once the talisman was seized, witnesses spoke out, revealing the horrifying details: Grassi had entered the Tollomi home, shot and stabbed multiple men, and terrorized anyone in his path.The case illuminates the interplay of superstition, community fear, and crime, showing how belief in a talisman can influence both criminal behavior and law enforcement efforts. The episode ends with Grassi’s arrest and the lingering question of his charm’s influence on the community.Sources & Context:“Luck of a Salted Charm,” True Detective Mysteries, March 1930.Tacoma Tribune, November–December 1923 – Coverage of the Grassi murders and arrests.Grays Harbor County Records (1923–1924) – Criminal filings and coroner reports.The Daily Olympian (Nov–Dec 1923) – Trial and witness accounts.Walla Walla Penitentiary Records (1924–1926) – Execution delay documents.Next episode, Kaydee will dive into the trial, the unraveling of Grassi’s “charm,” and the community’s confrontation with the brutal reality behind the myth.

On the night of November 18, 2008, Marlon Lee, a 41-year-old resident of Aberdeen, Washington, was brutally beaten and set on fire after leaving the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores. This episode of Only Murders on the Harbor examines the chilling events of that night, the investigation that followed, and the broader questions raised by the suspect’s extensive criminal history.Roderick T. Reed, 31 at the time, was identified as the last person seen with Marlon. While in custody, Reed’s erratic behavior included a 2010 attack on a deputy prosecutor during court proceedings, highlighting both his violent tendencies and systemic challenges in managing repeat offenders. Reed’s record spans decades, including charges for assault, theft, drugs, and probation violations, as well as a lien for unpaid child support in 2008.This episode not only explores the tragic events surrounding Marlon Lee’s death but also asks difficult questions about public safety, criminal justice, and the consequences of repeated legal failures.Sources & References:Seattle PI – Arrest in case of man set on fire: https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/arrest-in-case-of-man-set-on-fire-1292292.phpThurston County Sheriff – Inmate Roster Search: https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/cm/sheriff/bureau-corrections-roster-search.asp?mod=third&idnum=Z0050215The Jolt News – Police Blotter April 16, 2025: https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/police-blotter-for-wednesday-april-16-2025,19600Docket Alarm – Thurston County Superior Court: https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/Washington_State_Thurston_County_Superior_Court/25-1-00577-34/STATE_OF_WASHINGTON_vs_RODERICK_TERRY_REED_II/FindLaw – Court of Appeals, Washington State: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/wa-court-of-appeals/115506512.htmlOdyssey Portal – Washington State Courts: https://odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/ODYPORTAL/Home/WorkspaceMode?p=1#Grays Harbor County & Mason County case references:Case No. 091001068 – Judgment Available (GHC)Case No. 241002006 – Mason CountyCase No. 061003821 – Judgment Available (GHC)Case No. 061000253

This episode of Only Murders on the Harbor examines the death of 20-year-old Jimmy Smith-Kramer, a Quinault tribal member whose life was tragically cut short in a racially charged attack near Donkey Creek, Washington. In 2017, James Walker deliberately ran over Jimmy and another young man after shouting racial slurs. Though the attack was violent and intentional, the legal system failed to treat it as a hate crime—leaving the Quinault Nation and Jimmy’s family deeply frustrated.The Quinault Nation immediately called for the crime to be recognized as racially motivated, emphasizing how it reflected broader patterns of discrimination and violence against Native communities in the region. Walker eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, receiving a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence—a punishment many viewed as shockingly lenient given the gravity of his actions. Prosecutors argued that a longer sentence was unlikely due to Walker’s lack of a violent record, and the family faced an agonizing choice between accepting a plea deal or risking trial before a potentially biased jury.Through narration, soundscapes, and historical context, this episode explores the legal proceedings, the emotional toll on the community, and the public outcry that followed. Jimmy’s jersey was retired at Taholah High School in a moving ceremony attended by hundreds, honoring him as a role model, provider, and beloved friend. His death became a symbol of vulnerability for Indigenous youth, reopening deep wounds within the Quinault Nation and underscoring the systemic failures that leave Native communities without justice.The episode also examines the broader national context. Native Americans experience violence at rates far higher than other groups in the United States. Hate crimes against Indigenous people are often overlooked or minimized in the legal system, even when racial slurs or threats are present. Bureaucratic hurdles, under-resourced tribal law enforcement, and systemic bias all contribute to this gap. Each unacknowledged act of hate compounds historical trauma stemming from forced relocation, boarding school abuses, and systemic marginalization.Jimmy’s story is both personal and collective. It forces listeners to consider hard questions: What does justice mean when the law falls short? How do communities begin to heal when history and the present collide? And how do we honor lives lost to hate while pushing for meaningful change?Jimmy’s family and the Quinault Nation continue to speak at schools, advocate for Indigenous rights, and ensure his story sparks awareness and action. Their fight is a reminder that justice is not a single moment but a journey requiring shared responsibility, compassion, and persistence.📚 ResourcesU.S. Department of Justice – Hate Crimes: justice.gov/hatecrimesBureau of Justice Statistics – Violent Victimization of American Indians and Alaska Natives: bjs.ojp.govUrban Indian Health Institute – Reports: uihi.orgNative Justice Coalition: nativejustice.orgQuinault Indian Nation: quinaultindiannation.comLocal reporting from The Daily World and The Olympian (2017–2018)

In this episode of Only Murders on the Harbor, Kaydee unravels the tragic story of Curtis Engeland, a 74-year-old retired professor from Mercer Island, Washington. Known for his generosity, love of hiking, and passion for teaching, Curtis was rebuilding his life after the loss of his partner of 41 years.But when he turned to online dating in 2024, Curtis met Philip Brewer, 32, on the app Scruff. What began as a simple coffee date quickly spiraled into theft, fraud, and ultimately, murder. With the help of his partner, Christina Hardy, 47, Brewer drained Curtis’s finances, impersonated him through sloppy text messages, and fabricated a cover story to explain his sudden absence.On February 23, 2024, Brewer and Hardy attacked Curtis in his own home, injecting him with fentanyl before forcing him into the trunk of his car. They drove him over 100 miles to Cosmopolis in Grays Harbor County, where Hardy held him down as Brewer fatally stabbed him.Curtis’s disappearance alarmed his family and neighbors, who knew the unusual texts and unattended cats were clear signs something was wrong. Investigators traced Brewer and Hardy using GPS data and financial records, eventually discovering Curtis’s body on March 7. The pair fled to California but were arrested after confiding in Hardy’s daughter’s boyfriend, who alerted police.Today, Brewer and Hardy face charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and identity theft. Curtis’s neighbors tend his garden in his memory, ensuring that his kindness and generosity are not forgotten.This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of digital deception and the importance of recognizing red flags in online interactions.📚 Sources & CitationsKing County Superior Court documents (2024) – Charging records detailing the murder, kidnapping, and theft allegations against Philip Brewer and Christina Hardy.Seattle Times – “Mercer Island man found dead in Grays Harbor; 2 suspects charged” (March 2024).KOMO News – Coverage of the disappearance and discovery of Curtis Engeland, including neighbor and family interviews (March 2024).KING 5 News – “Couple charged in death of Mercer Island man” (March 2024).The Olympian – “Couple accused in murder of Mercer Island man found in Grays Harbor” (March 2024).

On April 8, 2000, sixteen-year-old Daryn C. Tolle left a Friday night “Rock & Bowl” dance in Aberdeen, Washington. A harmless tradition among friends turned tragic when he walked home alone and was found brutally stabbed under the Chehalis River bridge. Known as an “all-American” student with a quick sense of humor and no known enemies, Daryn’s death shocked a town that hadn’t seen a teen homicide in over 15 years.Within days, police arrested two men. Dionicio J. Russell confessed to the stabbing—claiming he didn’t know why he did it—while his friend, Matthew Christian, admitted to helping afterward. In October 2000, Russell was sentenced to 30 years in prison and remains incarcerated today at Monroe Correctional Complex. Christian served one year for aiding the crime.This episode explores the timeline of that night, the investigation, courtroom proceedings, and the grief-stricken response of the Aberdeen community. Through archival news reports, community recollections, and reflective narration, we examine how a single night’s small change of plans can ripple out with life-altering consequences.Sources UsedMan sentenced in slaying of Aberdeen teen, The Seattle Times, Oct 19, 2000 — crime details, trial, sentencing (link)Aberdeen Washington History Facebook Group — community reactions and local insight (link)Aberdeen Daily World archives, April 2000 — initial reporting and police statementsPolice seek motive in Aberdeen boy’s slaying, Seattle Times, Apr 10, 2000 (link)2 held in slaying of Aberdeen teen, Seattle Times, Apr 14, 2000 (link)Man sentenced in slaying of Aberdeen teen, Seattle Times, Oct 19, 2000 (link)

In this episode, we take a deep dive into a dark night in Aberdeen, Washington—October 17, 1953—that forever changed the lives of its residents. We recount the tragic murder of Albert Hakkarainen, a 26-year-old Korean War veteran, and the complex web of events that led to his death alongside Violet Nyland.From the timber-town rhythms of 1950s Aberdeen to the emotional turmoil of returning veterans, this episode paints a vivid picture of a community under strain. We reconstruct the fateful evening, explore witness accounts, police response, and the ensuing trial of Jerome Nyland, who was ultimately convicted of the murders.Through this story, we reflect on the human cost of violence, the lingering effects of war on returning soldiers, and the ways in which a small town grapples with tragedy. Albert’s life, though cut short, remains a reminder of courage, community, and the pursuit of justice.Resources & References:State v. Nyland, 1955 Washington Supreme Court decision — Trial details and legal arguments. https://law.justia.com/cases/washington/supreme-court/1955/32967-1.htmlAberdeen Washington History Facebook post — Eyewitness info, timeline, personal family insights. https://www.facebook.com/groups/aberdeenwashingtonhistory/posts/3701292293487515/Aberdeen Daily World archives, Oct 1953 — Contemporary news coverage, police response, community reaction.Korean War veteran records & Aberdeen community history — Background on Albert’s military service and postwar life.Historical context on domestic violence and crime of passion defenses in the 1950s — Legal norms and societal attitudes relevant to the trial.

In this episode of Only Murders on the Harbor, host Kaydee explores the 1923 murder of William McKay, a dedicated Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organizer in Aberdeen, Washington. Known as the Wobblies, McKay and his fellow labor activists stood at the center of a fierce struggle between timber workers and powerful mill owners on the Grays Harbor coast. Through firsthand accounts, historical documents, and contemporary reporting, we delve into the brutal tactics used by company-backed vigilantes, the rise of the Citizens’ Committees, and the violent repression that culminated in McKay’s assassination. Join us as we unpack the legacy of labor resistance in the Pacific Northwest and honor the courage of workers who fought for dignity and justice in the face of deadly opposition.Sources Used:Aaron Goings, May Day and the Murder of William McKay: 100 Years Past (CounterPunch, 2023)Industrial Worker, Vol. 5, No. 20 (May 16, 1923)Roderick Nash, Lumber Towns and Timber Frontiers: The Pacific Northwest, 1880–1920 (University of Washington Press, 1990)HistoryLink.org, Hoquiam — Thumbnail HistoryIndustrial Workers of the World Archives and Historical Documents (various)

In this haunting and powerful episode, host Kaydee takes listeners to October 16, 1903, when the booming timber town of Aberdeen, Washington, was nearly reduced to ashes by one of the most devastating urban fires in state history.Aberdeen, a coastal city built almost entirely from wood, was thriving at the turn of the century — its economy driven by logging, sawmills, and maritime trade. But that prosperity came with risk. Buildings, sidewalks, even streets were made of timber and layered with sawdust — a virtual tinderbox waiting for a spark.That spark came from a mysterious source — possibly a cigarette or faulty stove — in the Arctic Hotel (also called the Mack Building). Fanned by harbor winds, the blaze quickly exploded into an uncontrollable firestorm. Within hours, it consumed nearly 140 buildings, 20 acres of downtown, and caused over $1 million in damage — the equivalent of nearly $35 million today.Kaydee guides listeners through the eerie escalation of the disaster — from frantic bucket brigades to exploding gas tanks, from the collapse of the fire station itself to the release of jail inmates who fought the fire alongside townspeople. The scene was chaotic and heroic, marked by loss, fear, and moments of extraordinary courage.Despite desperate efforts, the fire devastated the heart of Aberdeen. Three people died, countless businesses and homes were destroyed, and residents were left in shock as smoke choked the skies and silence fell over the smoldering ruins.But this episode is not just about destruction. It’s about what came next.With powerful archival sources and vivid detail, Kaydee narrates how Aberdeen began rebuilding almost immediately. Neighbors sheltered each other, churches became relief centers, and aid poured in from nearby towns like Hoquiam and Montesano. Former prisoners who had helped fight the flames were even pardoned or had their sentences reduced.The fire changed Aberdeen forever. In its wake, the city passed new building codes banning wooden construction downtown. It replaced its volunteer fire brigade with a professional department, installed hydrants, and invested in a municipal water system. Fire safety became part of public culture — taught in schools and enforced through inspections.The transformation was not just physical. Aberdeen learned from its trauma, emerging stronger and more resilient. Its brick buildings still stand today, silent witnesses to a city that refused to be broken.Sources:HistoryLink.org – Aberdeen Fire OverviewNYT Archive (1903)Picryl & Wikimedia Commons – Historic ImagesJones Photo & Asahel Curtis CollectionAberdeen Museum Friends

In November 1901, a routine civil warrant in the Pacific Northwest turned deadly. In the boomtown of Cosmopolis, Washington—where timber mills ran nonstop and the law walked on shaky ground—Town Marshal Silas W. Smith, age 57, was gunned down while attempting to disarm a local man during a property dispute.The shooter claimed he was within his rights to be armed as a U.S. mail carrier, sparking a legal debate that would result in a conviction, not for murder, but manslaughter. He was sentenced to ten years... and paroled in less than six.But who was Marshal Smith? Why was Cosmopolis so volatile at the turn of the century? And how did a quiet town marshal become one of the earliest known line-of-duty deaths in Grays Harbor County?In this episode, host Kaydee dives into:The violent altercation that took Marshal Smith’s lifeThe blurred boundaries between local and federal authorityThe legal system of the early 1900sCosmopolis’s gritty, industrial identity during Washington’s timber boomHow Smith’s story was nearly lost—and what brought it backThis immersive 20-minute episode weaves together rich narrative, sound design, and original historical research to illuminate one man’s forgotten sacrifice in a dangerous era of Western law enforcement.Sources & Historical References:Behind the Badge Foundation. Marshal Silas W. Smith – Line of Duty Death Roll Call. https://behindthebadgefoundation.org/rollcall/smith-marshal-silas-wOfficer Down Memorial Page. Marshal Silas W. Smith. https://www.odmp.org/officer/12641-marshal-silas-w-smithHistoryLink.org. Grays Harbor County – A Brief HistoryCosmopolis incorporation records (1891) and local government archivesWashington State Archives – Civil and Criminal Dockets (Grays Harbor County, early 1900s)Logging and labor history from: Tassin, Eloise. “Washington’s Timber Frontier”, Pacific Northwest QuarterlyU.S. Postal Regulations and Authority Laws, c. 1900 (National Archives, RG 28)Federal Mail Carrier Protections – Congressional Records, 1898–1901General timeline and context from: White, Richard. It’s Your Misfortune and None of My Own: A New History of the American West. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.

On the night of February 2, 1963, three individuals — Reinhart Nelson, John Patrick Jr., and Alberta “Dolly” Burns — drove through a rainy Grays Harbor night with one goal: to rob Dan Damitio, a quiet grocer and Army veteran believed to carry large amounts of cash.But their plan unraveled quickly. Shots were fired, and Dan Damitio lay dead in his home. What followed was more than just a murder case — it became a legal battle that would make its way to the Washington State Supreme Court and redefine due process in the state.In this episode, we examine the tragic events that led to Dan's death and the deeply flawed trials that followed. Nelson, already known to police, was convicted of first-degree murder under the felony-murder rule. But his conviction was reversed after critical errors in the courtroom were exposed, including the introduction of a co-defendant’s hearsay confession and prosecutorial misconduct related to the Fifth Amendment.We dive into the powerful legal questions raised in State v. Nelson (72 Wn.2d 269), a case that tested the boundaries of the Confrontation Clause, due process, expert witness admissibility, and the ethics of courtroom strategy. The story we uncover is not only about crime — it's about the importance of fair trials and the rights of the accused.Featuring background on each person involved — from Dan Damitio's quiet life and military service, to the complex histories of Nelson, Patrick, and Burns — this episode paints a full picture of a case that still influences Washington’s justice system today.🔎 Sources include:Washington Digital ArchivesJustia Law: State v. Nelson (1967)Grays Harbor County historical and legal recordsIf you enjoy deep dives into criminal cases that shaped legal precedent, follow and rate Only Murders on the Harbor wherever you listen. Your support keeps the stories alive — because justice is more than a verdict.

In this episode, host Kaydee continues the story of Brian Bassett, who at age 16 committed the tragic murders of his parents, Michael and Wendy Bassett, and his 5-year-old brother Austin in McCleary, Washington in 1995.Part 2 focuses on the legal aftermath, including key Supreme Court rulings like Miller v. Alabama that banned mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles. We follow Brian’s multiple resentencing hearings, the impact of Washington State’s Miller-Fix Law, and the emotional courtroom moments involving family testimony and arguments from the defense and prosecution.The episode also covers Brian’s release in January 2024 under strict parole supervision, public and family reactions, and the broader issues of juvenile justice, rehabilitation, and community healing.Note: Some storytelling is dramatized for effect, but all factual details are drawn from verified court records and public documents.ResourcesMiller v. Alabama (2012) Supreme Court Decision Washington State Miller-Fix Law (RCW 9.94A.729): Local news: Grays Harbor County Superior Court coverage: https://www.chronline.comNIJ: Juvenile Sentencing & Rehabilitation Research: https://www.nij.gov/topics/courts/pages/juvenile-sentencing.aspxShare This Episode If you found this episode insightful, please consider sharing it with your friends and family.Subscribe to Only Murders on the Harbor on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated with new episodes.

On August 10, 1995, 16-year-old Brian Bassett murdered his parents and younger brother in McCleary, Washington. This episode covers the events leading up to the crime, the trial, and how this case sparked a decades-long legal journey that would impact juvenile sentencing in the state.👉 Part 2 coming soon: We’ll cover Bassett’s resentencing, legal appeals, and his eventual release.⚠️ Content WarningThis episode includes a discussion of familicide and juvenile incarceration. Listener discretion is advised.📚 SourcesThe Chronicle: Grays Harbor County Man Gets New SentenceKING 5 News: Brian Bassett ResentencedKXRO News: Bassett Released from PrisonSeattle Times Archive: Slain Family Feared SonNew York Times: 2 Teen-Agers HeldSpokesman-Review: Teen ConvictedFindLaw: Court of Appeals - State v. BassettJustia: WA Supreme Court (1999)WA Courts: Majority Opinion PDFJuvenile Law Center: Petition for Review PDFSeattle U Law Review: Mandatory Juvenile LWOPThe Olympian: Bassett Family Murder Coverage💬 Like what you heard? Follow, rate, and review Only Murders on the Harbor on your favorite podcast app to support the show!📧 Questions, tips, or story suggestions? Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we explore two haunting cold cases from the Pacific Northwest—one still unsolved, and another finally closed after nearly 50 years through the power of forensic genealogy.Case 1: Elma 1988 Jane Doe On October 24, 1988, skeletal remains were found off a remote logging road near Elma, WA. The woman had been killed by a gunshot to the head, likely between 1982 and 1988. She was about 28 years old, 5 feet tall, and possibly of Native American or Southeast Asian descent. Her jaw had been broken near the time of death.She was fully clothed in a men’s blue Loren Scott shirt, black Venezia pants, a floral blouse, slip-on shoes (worn only briefly), a pearl ring (Avon, Winter 1981), and a gold earring with five blue sapphires. A woman’s inside-out shirt was nearby. The scene suggested she was killed where she was found—five miles from the nearest paved road. Despite extensive DNA testing and outreach to tribes, her identity remains a mystery.If you have information, contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711.Sources:DNA Doe Project: https://dnadoeproject.org/case/grays-harbor-co-jane-doe-1988/KIRO 7: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/can-you-help-murdered-womans-remains-found-near-elma-still-unidentified-after-nearly-36-years/WQDUWHCX5BGEFERVJPVS6D6P3I/Case 2: Annie Marie Lehman (1970–1971) Annie, 17, vanished from Aberdeen, WA, in 1971. Rumors tied her disappearance to human trafficking. Witnesses said she left with an older woman possibly linked to San Francisco. A year later, in August 1971, a father and son camping in Josephine County, OR, found a young woman’s remains in a forested dump site. Near her were a hunting knife, a map of Northern California campgrounds, and 38 cents.The victim—nicknamed “Jane Annie Doe”—was about 5'4", 125 lbs, with dyed red hair and buck teeth. She wore a sterling ring with the initials “MH” and a mother-of-pearl ring with an “A” scratched in. A clay reconstruction by forensic artist Joyce Nagy in 2004 was named “Annie.”In 2016, isotope analysis pointed to northeastern U.S. origins. In 2017, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the DNA Doe Project reopened the case. After degraded DNA recovery and tracing family trees across Canada, England, and New Zealand, a sibling match confirmed her identity. On March 12, 2019, Jane Doe was identified as Anne Marie Lehman, solving Josephine County’s oldest cold case.If you have info, contact Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123, Case #71-940.Sources:Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/404ufor.htmlKOMO News: https://komonews.com/news/local/human-remains-found-in-woods-nearly-50-years-ago-idd-as-missing-wash-girlThe Daily World: https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/is-annie-doe-annie-lehman/

Case 1: Grays Harbor County John Doe (1997)In April 1997, the partial remains of an unidentified white male were found washed ashore near Grayland, Washington. Estimated to be between his late teens and early 20s, about 5'11", and 170 pounds, the man had extensive dental work, including four stainless steel crowns and a missing or gapped front tooth. Due to advanced decomposition, the cause of death and other physical features like hair and eye color remain unknown. The case remains open with few leads, and authorities encourage tips via the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department, NamUs, or the Doe Project. If you have any information or tips to provide in helping to identify the John Doe from Grayland found in 1997 please contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department at 360-249-3711.Sources: UnIdentified Awarness: https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Grays_Harbor_County_John_Doe_(1997)UnCovered Cases: https://uncovered.com/cases/1997-grays-harbor-county-john-doeCase 2: Lyle Stevik (2001)In September 2001, a man using the alias "Lyle Stevik" checked into the Quinault Inn in Amanda Park, Washington, and died by suicide two days later. He left behind a simple note and $160 in cash for his unused stay. His true identity remained unknown for years. Described as possibly of mixed ancestry (Native American, Hispanic, and African-American), aged 20–30, he had no luggage and had lost significant weight recently. DNA, dental, and fingerprint data were collected but yielded no matches. In 2018, with help from the DNA Doe Project, his identity was confirmed through genetic genealogy. He was a 25-year-old man from Alameda County, California. His family, who had thought he had chosen to leave, was notified, and his remains were returned to them. His real name was never publicly released to protect their privacy.Sources:KXRO: https://www.kxro.com/lyle-stevik-identified-closing-16-1-2-year-old-unsolved-case/DNA Doe Project: https://dnadoeproject.org/case/lyle_stevik/Santa Fe New Mexican News: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/dead-man-found-in-washington-state-who-had-ties-to-n-m-id-d-through/article_00accfb7-b964-5a57-a9ae-ed6841bb2917.htmlGrays Harbor County Case File: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14YajWIFMjtVviqLVcUJ4QWQ-JmKpW6dEgz6zbhi9MZw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.2bwlkka8zvvyMedium Magazine: https://medium.com/mel-magazine/the-strange-case-of-the-man-with-no-name-13691028e07eThe Daily World: https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/man-found-dead-in-amanda-park-motel-in-2001-positively-identified-as-california-man/

In this gripping final chapter of Only Murders on the Harbor, Kaydee and James trace the complex and haunting aftermath of Laura Law’s murder—a case that refused to fade quietly into history. From failed federal investigations and unsealed tax court revelations, to political conspiracies and Cold War hysteria, this episode dives deep into how Laura’s death became a pawn in local and national power struggles.Listeners will hear how key figures like County Commissioner Richard Ultican and union leader Dick Law became entangled in allegations of corruption, cover-ups, and Communist paranoia. We follow the trail through a federal grand jury, a tax evasion conviction, and bizarre testimony by professional anti-Communist Paul Crouch—all of which only muddy the waters further.Ultimately, we explore the enduring mystery and legacy of Laura Law’s tragic death, the weight it left on her family, and how political narratives tried to reshape her story for decades. It's a powerful, thought-provoking close to one of Grays Harbor’s most unsettling and politically charged murder cases.Sources:Jennifer Ott's "Laura Law is found murdered in her Aberdeen home on January 5, 1940", https://www.historylink.org/File/9260.Robert Saltvig's "The Tragic Legend of Laura Law", https://www.jstor.org/stable/40490240Washington State's Archives' File on the case of Laura Law's murder, https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-75th-anniversary-law-murder-caseMatthew N. Wells's "Billy's Back: Walk of the Undead", https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/downtown-aberdeen-association-seeking-input-tuesday-for-spooky-october-tour/

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Laura Law murder case, we return to Grays Harbor to unravel the explosive political fallout that followed Laura’s tragic death. What began as a brutal homicide quickly transformed into a fierce ideological battle—one that exposed deep divisions between labor unions and local power structures.This episode traces the efforts of the Grays Harbor Civil Rights Committee to defend Laura’s husband, Dick Law, as they allege corruption, conspiracy, and cover-ups tied to powerful business interests. We explore the national attention the case drew, the push for Department of Justice involvement, the role of the media, and the growing paranoia around communism. As lines blur between legal inquiry and political war, we ask: Was Laura’s murder ever just about Laura?🎧 Tune in as we dig through historical archives, fiery courtroom drama, and the voices of resistance to reveal the murky undercurrents beneath one of Washington’s most politically charged murder cases.#OnlyMurdersOnTheHarbor #TrueCrimePodcast #LauraLaw #GraysHarbor #UnsolvedMystery #LaborHistory #CivilRights #UnionStrong #MurderMystery #HistoricalTrueCrime #PodcastEpisode #NowPlayingSources: Jennifer Ott's "Laura Law is found murdered in her Aberdeen home on January 5, 1940", https://www.historylink.org/File/9260.Robert Saltvig's "The Tragic Legend of Laura Law", https://www.jstor.org/stable/40490240Washington State's Archives' File on the case of Laura Law's murder, https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-75th-anniversary-law-murder-caseMatthew N. Wells's "Billy's Back: Walk of the Undead", https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/downtown-aberdeen-association-seeking-input-tuesday-for-spooky-october-tour/

Season 1, Episode 1 of Only Murders on the Harbor sets the stage with an eerie, atmospheric tone, highlighting the fog-shrouded coastal town of Grays Harbor County, Washington. Hosted by Kaydee and her fiancé James, the podcast introduces the murder of Laura Law against a backdrop of labor unrest, political divisions, and anti-communist sentiment in 1930s Aberdeen. The episode explores Laura’s background as a Finnish immigrant and her role as a key organizer in the union movement alongside her husband, Dick Law—a prominent, controversial figure accused of communist affiliations. Tensions escalate with historical events like the Red Hall raid, clashes between rival unions, and mounting hostility from local businesses and conservative groups. The episode culminates in the brutal, unsolved murder of Laura Law, intertwining personal tragedy with larger political conflicts, leaving listeners questioning who was responsible and why.Sources: Jennifer Ott's "Laura Law is found murdered in her Aberdeen home on January 5, 1940", https://www.historylink.org/File/9260.Robert Saltvig's "The Tragic Legend of Laura Law", https://www.jstor.org/stable/40490240Washington State's Archives' File on the case of Laura Law's murder, https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-75th-anniversary-law-murder-caseMatthew N. Wells's "Billy's Back: Walk of the Undead", https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/downtown-aberdeen-association-seeking-input-tuesday-for-spooky-october-tour/

This is the first trailer for Only Murders on the Harbor, a show that explores real crimes and mysteries in Grays Harbor County, Washington.