But Kim Wagner knew she had one more job to do. But the defense is hoping science can support Bass' account. Kevin Bowhay: Yeah, at that point, I thought, "This is why we do what we do.". She alleged in court filings that he was both physically and verbally abusive to her and their three children. She was a high achiever, a former teacher told the Associated Press last December. Backstrom said she had a similar experience with Bass a few months before Staviks murder when she was just 15 and Bass was 21. The next time police came around asking about Bass delivery routes, she offered to help them get a DNA sample. Case closed? He remains in custody. Acme-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Washington state average. Ahead of 20/20s rebroadcast of the episode about how her murder was solved 30 years later, heres what you need to know about the crime and how her killer was finally apprehended. Anderson and Backstrom had creepy encounters with him around the time of Stavik's murder, but they had never come forward with their suspicions. Would her family and friends finally get justice? Um, oh, yeah. But it's a big leap between thinking you have your man and convicting him in a court of law. And for the past 25 years, Tim had been living a quiet life in a nearby community, married with three children, and driving a delivery truck for a bakery. Peter Van Sant: For you, that moment when you're seeing the family embrace and the tears, did you think, "This is what justice looks like? Acme is located in the South Fork Valley between the northern Cascade Mountains and Lake Whatcom. Plus, Bass had lived a few houses down from the Stavik family at the time of Staviks murder. "And that's why I did it.". Starck Follis is one of Bass' defense attorneys. TIM BASS INTERROGATION: Are you trying to get me to admit to something I didn't do, is that what you're trying to do right now? In total, some 30 local men gave DNA samples. Det. It was after a softball game in the summer of 1989, a few months before Mandy's murder. Read More . Six weeks later, it was time for sentencing. The same went for information on his routes. After this conversation, Anderson contacted a fellow classmate of theirs who worked for the Whatcom Sheriffs Office and told him about their suspicions of Bass, which is what led to an investigation. The rape charge had been thrown out due to the statute of limitations expiring. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. On November 24, 1989, 18-year-old Stavik was home from college for Thanksgiving when she went out for a run near her home in Acme, Washington, and did not return. Acme, WA - The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspected homicide in the Acme area after a body was found at a park on Saturday, April 4th, 2020. After 30 years of heartache, fear and frustration, the trial of Mandy's accused killer finally begins. Robert John Bardo traveled from his home in Arizona to West Hollywood to kill the actress in cold blood in a crime that shocked Hollywood. Det. Police arrested Timothy in December 2017 after his DNA matched with the DNA found on Mandy . When asked about Mandy, Bass pretended he didn't even remember her. Det. Acme jobs have increased by 1.7%. I don't know how I managed to have that child," Mary Stavik says of daughter Mandy. But when investigators approached him about providing a voluntary DNA sample to exclude him from the crime, he refused, Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney David McEachran told a court at Basss initial appearance on December 13, 2017. Senator Murray Highlights Millions in Funding to Fix Water Supply Issues, Promote Drought Resilience in Central WA. As the jury in the Mandy Stavik case deliberated, the hours felt like an eternity. In Tim Bass, detectives believed they had their killer. And, so, this time my heart was like, "Ohh." Acme is also included in, and the source-name for, a larger census-designated place (CDP). Acme is a tiny town located in the state of Washington. Tom Bass remembers a harrowing night after a high school girlfriend had broken up with Tim. 20/20 airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Also, he was charged with first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping too. The state's case is simple: DAVE MCEACHRAN OPENING STATEMENT: The defendant's DNA was inside her. Peter Van Sant: What happened in terms of the investigation? Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The body of Mandy Stavik was discovered in a Washington river in 1989, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The case has captivated the community for more than a generation. I thought that it was kind of obvious that they had used an intermediary to collect evidence against Bass in an area where they were previously prohibited from getting evidence themselves, which violated a fundamental privacy interest, Basss attorney told the Herald. They charged him with kidnapping, rape and murder. What a birthday present.". We are the leaders in Crime Scene Cleanup Acme WA, Specializing in Blood removal and Decontamination of Crime Scenes, and Blood Clean Up from a Death Call Us for Crime Scene Cleanup Acme WA - 1-888-477-0015 Kim Wagner: It really took a village. More Economy. She had it all going for her; she had a bright future ahead of her.. Mandy's sister Molly was overwhelmed, too. Prosecutor Dave McEachran: Because he's making it up. Molly named her daughter after her sister Mandy. Peter Van Sant: Robin, did you ever see this? Kevin Bowhay: We got the right guy. Are you saying that when she came home, they met somewhere and had intimacy? Later that day, the sheriff came knocking on Mary Stavik's door. Whatcom County Sheriff Larry Mount said she was murdered. The sheriffs office is asking the publics help in locating 23-year-old Tyler James OKeefe. Mary Stavik: I just really didn't have any hope that became more ingrained in me as the years went on. Gina Malone: I was so nervous, and I was shaking I don't even want to see his face. Jim Freeman: A sense of innocence, I think, more than anything. Several of Mandys friends had been talking about the case amongst themselves and came with Basss name. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin, Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. He didn't rape anyone. For more information, review the . And she says, "I can get it for you. Heather Backstrom: Yeah, I was very nervous. Detectives are investigating after a deceased person was discovered in an abandoned building in First Hill on Wednesday night. Mandy was too fast a runner to catch on foot. She wanted to do well in everything she did. Three days later, her nude body was found three miles away in the Nooksack River. Back in 1989, Tim Bass lived down the road from Mandy Stavik and she often jogged past his house on her regular running routewhich is how he fixated on her, police believe. Bowhay noticed that a local drug dealer named John Wisnewski had been questioned because he told people he might know who murdered Mandy. The investigation stalled yet again until police received an unexpected helping hand. Heather Backstrom: I'm probably 15 and he was in his 20s. Sheriff Bill Elfo, who was appointed top cop in 2003, described it as a place where residents don't lock their doors and leave their keys in the ignition. The lowest monthly average temperature in Acme for December is 38.5 degrees. Mulryan gave Gerber $50 cash for his efforts, which was taken from the money they allegedly stole from Sather, court records state. Mandy Stavik Mandy's family life had not been easy but she loved spending time with them whenever she got the chance. Bass was found guilty of first-degree murder on May 24, 2019. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. He was weird. Merrilee Anderson: I thought it was Tim Bass, because of the experiences that I had had with him in the past. An autopsy revealed drowning as the cause of death; she had also received a blow to the head and had been sexually assaulted. Deliberations lasted a little over a day. COURT CLERK: We the jury find the defendant Timothy Forrest Bass guilty . Kevin Bowhay: I'm questioning him on, like, "Well, did you have any relationship with her?" Det. Peterson, and so many others in the small community of Acme, Washington, are still emotional even 30 years later. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspected homicide after a body was found at a park in Acme, according to a sheriff's office . Bowhay]: How many times you driven this road? Kevin Bowhay: So, when they did the autopsy, they were able to recover male DNA from Mandy. Suddenly Backstrom blurted out that she knew who did it and Anderson said she did too. "And I turned to her and said, 'Oh, I do, too," Merilee Anderson says. Hearing Backstrom's story, Anderson told her ownwhich was far more chilling. It took a whole community. He couldn't get life because prosecutors did not charge him with premeditated murder they were not sure they could convict him of that charge. Forecasters: Snow accumulations expected in Whatcom County lowlands, higher elevations overnight (Sat.) Then it was the Bass family's turn to speak. Tim Bass addresses the court at his sentencing. There are no telephone calls made between the two of them. Peter Van Sant: And back in 1989, 1990 Did they go to the Bass household and question people there? Bass had lived just a short distance down the road from Mandys house and along the route shed taken for her run. In 1989, a beautiful, athletic, and intelligent young woman named Mandy Stavik went missing while out on a run in her home of Whatcom County, Washington. [laughs]. The Whatcom County Sheriffs Office has identified another man wanted in a planned robbery that ended in the death of a woman in Acme over the weekend. It would now be at the heart of the jury's deliberation. By 2009, Detective Kevin Bowhay, who attended the same high school as Mandy Stavik, was the lead investigator on the unsolved case. Gerber said he, Mulryan and OKeefe, who was seated in the back, drove to the park just before dawn Saturday. Guide Meridian (SR539) at Front Street (February 24, 2022). Kevin Bowhay: I started goin' through, "Who's been interviewed? Kevin Bowhay: So, he just looked up and was, like, "Mandy, Mandy, Mandy. Det. She returned to her hometown of Acme, Washington, for Thanksgiving break. The sheriffs office determined Gerbers truck matched the description of the vehicle that allegedly hit and killed Sather and that he told friends he was in the Acme area when something bad happened to a girl, the court records state. We needed to get to the bottom of it. Merrilee Anderson: So, I open the door and there's Tim Bass at the door. 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