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...

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...

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...

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....

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 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 60 years. 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...

Today's episode is focused on two separate cases instead of the usual one and I interview two daughters, who are not related, but definitely know each other. One is Sam Moyer, whose mother Nancy went missing in Tenino, Washington in 2009. The other is Karlee Bodine, whose mother Karen was murdered in Rochester, Washington in 2007. While Nancy and Karen may have never known each other, their children have bonded over a shared fight - for justice. This is Washed Away. Show notes can be found at...

On February 4th, 2003 a little girl left her home in Kennewick for a quick trip to the store, just a few blocks away. She was supposed to be getting in the car of a family friend who had just left, but when he later returned without her… the family realized that there had been a huge miscommunication. It’s the case that triggered the first-ever Amber Alert here in Washington state. This episode of Washed Away is about the disappearance of Sofia Juarez. And I talk to someone who was at the...

Hi I’m Ashley, the host of Washed Away and yes… Season 2 is coming very soon. That means more Washington state based cold cases, more missing persons, more unsolved murders, and more interviews with experts and family that know these cases better than anyone. And I really try to focus on the people and cases that need media attention the most. The ones that most listeners may have never heard of. Those are the local stories I want to highlight here on Washed Away. If you have any case...

Spooky season is by far my favorite time of year, so I wanted to release a special episode of Washed Away to celebrate. You'll hear me talking to a paranormal investigator out of Spokane, Amanda Paulson, as she tells me about her experiences at some of Eastern Washington's most haunted locations. There's some history, mystery, ghosts, and even a little bit of murder. Consider this your content warning, though truly this episode is much more casual and lighthearted than usual... in my opinion....

This is an interesting and unique case because it doesn't involve a murder or a suicide - there wasn’t necessarily anything nefarious going on at all - it was just a tragic accident that became an ongoing mystery. Who was the hitchhiker that died in a truck collision near Mount St. Helens in 1991? Let's try to find out on this episode of Washed Away. Detective Sergeant Stacy Moate and Carri Gordon, the Program Manager of the WSP Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit both help me tell this...

On this episode of Washed Away I’m gonna tell you about what could possibly be the oldest and coldest, unsolved case in Seattle’s history. It involves dynamite, a widow, and 60 years of mystery. Actually 61 years as of earlier this month. This is the truly bizarre story around the bombing of Pearl Kongsle. The other voice you'll hear from is that of retired detective, Mike Ciesynski. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com. (Content Warning: Murder)

The Lake Stickney John Doe has been a mystery since 1994 when his body was found underwater in Snohomish County. Authorities knew so little about him they couldn’t even be sure he was caucasian … and oddly enough his race would change several times throughout the years as authorities tried to ID him. DNA recently gave him his name back - it’s Rodney Johnson - but we still don't know how he ended up in that lake and who killed him? This is Washed Away. You'll also hear from Forensic Artist,...

On this episode of Washed Away, I’m going to tell you about one of the FBI’s major case files: the murder of an Assistant United States Attorney that happened in 2001. This is a case that had all the resources imaginable to solve it, plus a million dollar reward and yet... almost 19 years later... there are still so many unknowns. And technically no one’s ever been held accountable. The hosts of Somebody Somewhere join me for this one. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com....

On this episode of Washed Away, I’m gonna tell you about the unsolved murder of a young mother that took place in 1985. But in order to talk about her case, I also have to tell you about three others that… all seem to be connected. Though it depends on who you ask. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com. (Content Warning: Murder, Domestic Violence)

On this episode of Washed Away, I'm gonna tell you about a former John Doe whose story started out a lot like Mary Anderson's but recently ended very differently after almost four decades. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com. (Content Warning: Suicide)

On this episode of Washed Away, I'm going to tell you about the unusual death of Mary Anderson, a mysterious woman who claimed to have no relatives, no one to care about what happened to her and yet she's made a lasting impression on dozens of strangers, including myself. Show notes can be found at washedawaypodcast.com. (Content Warning: Suicide)

Hi. I’m Ashley Smith, I live in Seattle, and I’m the host of a new podcast called Washed Away. Come listen in as I wade through the murky waters of the Evergreen state and tell the stories behind some of Washington’s biggest crimes and unsolved mysteries. I do research, I interview experts, and I try to track down the people who were actually there. And I do this all in the hopes of bringing some much needed new life to cold cases. But the question is - will I actually be able to help solve...

I’m Ashley Smith, I live in Seattle, and I’m the host of a new podcast called Washed Away. Come listen in as I wade through the murky waters of the Evergreen state and tell the stories behind some of Washington’s biggest unsolved murders and mysteries. I do research, interview experts, and try to track down the people who were actually there. All in the hopes of bringing new life to cold cases. The big question is - will I be able to help solve anything, or have all the answers been washed away?