Digest

This episode of My Favorite Murder dives into the chilling true crime story of Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch, two young girls who were murdered in Tacoma, Washington, in 1986. The episode follows the investigation, which went cold for decades, highlighting the impact of these tragedies on the community and the families of the victims. The episode then details the breakthroughs in DNA technology that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the two separate killers, Robert Washburn and Gary Hartman. The episode concludes with a discussion of the importance of DNA testing and the impact of Jennifer and Michelle's Law, which was passed in Washington state to allow law enforcement to collect DNA samples from deceased sex offenders. The episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of never giving up hope in solving cold cases and the advancements in technology that can help bring justice to victims and their families.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the hosts, Kurt Brownleur and Scotty Landis, and their podcast, Bananas, which focuses on strange and unusual news stories. They invite listeners to join them for new episodes every Tuesday.

00:00:43

My Favorite Murder Intro

This Chapter features the introduction to the My Favorite Murder podcast, with hosts Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgarriff. They discuss their excitement about recording in person and their upcoming vacation.

00:01:30

Vacation Pre-Record

This Chapter is a brief pre-recorded episode, with Georgia Hardstark announcing a solo story and a return to regular episodes on the 4th of July.

00:01:45

Merch and Promo Codes

This Chapter is a brief segment dedicated to promoting the My Favorite Murder merchandise and reminding listeners to use promo codes for advertised products.

00:03:24

The Murders of Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch

This Chapter delves into the story of the murders of Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch in Tacoma, Washington. It details the circumstances surrounding their disappearances, the police investigations, and the emotional toll on their families. The chapter also highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in the 1980s due to limited DNA technology.

00:26:25

Solving the Cold Cases

This Chapter focuses on the breakthroughs in DNA technology that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the two killers. It describes the use of genealogical profiling, the painstaking process of analyzing case files, and the eventual DNA matches that brought justice to the victims' families. The chapter also discusses the impact of Jennifer and Michelle's Law, which was passed in Washington state to improve DNA collection practices.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happened to Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch?

  Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch were two young girls who were murdered in Tacoma, Washington, in 1986. Their cases went unsolved for over 30 years.

• How were the cold cases of Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch solved?

  Advances in DNA technology, specifically genealogical profiling, played a crucial role in solving the cold cases. DNA evidence from the crime scenes was used to identify the killers, Robert Washburn and Gary Hartman.

• What is Jennifer and Michelle's Law?

  Jennifer and Michelle's Law is a law passed in Washington state that allows law enforcement to collect DNA samples from deceased sex offenders. This law was inspired by the murders of Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch and aims to improve DNA collection practices to help solve cold cases.

• What impact did the murders of Jennifer Bastion and Michelle Welch have on the community?

  The murders had a significant impact on the community of Tacoma, leading to a heightened sense of fear and anxiety. Parents were afraid to let their children ride their bikes unsupervised, and the community was on edge for years.

• What is the significance of the DNA evidence in these cases?

  The DNA evidence was crucial in identifying the killers after decades of inactivity. It demonstrated the power of DNA technology in solving cold cases and highlighted the importance of preserving evidence.

• What is genealogical profiling and how was it used in these cases?

  Genealogical profiling is a technique that uses genealogical databases to identify potential suspects based on DNA evidence. In these cases, DNA samples from the crime scenes were compared to genealogical databases, leading to the identification of the killers.

• What is the purpose of Jennifer and Michelle's Law?

  The purpose of Jennifer and Michelle's Law is to improve DNA collection practices in Washington state by allowing law enforcement to collect DNA samples from deceased sex offenders. This law aims to prevent future cold cases and help solve existing ones.

• What was the outcome of the trials for Robert Washburn and Gary Hartman?

  Both Robert Washburn and Gary Hartman were convicted of their respective murders and sentenced to 26 years and six months in prison.

• What impact did these cases have on the families of the victims?

  The murders had a devastating impact on the families of the victims, who endured years of uncertainty and grief. The families were instrumental in advocating for changes in DNA collection practices and ensuring that justice was served.

Show Notes