The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has launched a two-person dedicated cold case and missing persons unit, the agency announced last week.
“We are extremely excited about the creation of this unit, which aims to provide closure to loved ones impacted by these cases and bring forward justice for the victims,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post on June 6.
The unit consists of volunteer Special Deputy Jim Lindsay, who is a retired law enforcement officer with experience investigating fraud and cold cases, and Detective George Oplinger, who has been with the sheriff’s office for the last 24 years and has seven years of prior detective experience.
“Detective Oplinger has been recognized numerous times throughout his tenured career for his exceptional investigative skills and compassion for victims,” the sheriff’s office stated in a June 6 social media post.
The specialty unit is made possible by the public safety tax recently passed by voters, which will allow the sheriff’s office to fill 27 new deputy positions over the next 18 months, according to the sheriff’s office.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) had a record of 30 active missing persons cases in Thurston County. The oldest active case on record dates back to 1963, with the most recent case occurring in March 2023.
Additionally, there were eight sets of human remains found in Thurston County between 1981 and 2018 that remain unidentified, according to NamUs.
Project Cold Case, a nonprofit database consisting of unsolved homicides in the U.S., has two unsolved murder cases on record in Thurston County.
More information on active missing persons and unidentified persons cases, visit https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/.
More information on unsolved murder cases, visit https://database.projectcoldcase.org/.
For more information or to submit tips to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office’s cold case/missing person unit, contact the sheriff’s office at 360-786-5500.
Thurston County unsolved missing/murdered person cases
• Stephen Barton, last seen in Rochester on March 9, 2023, at the age of 54.
• Whitney Wilken, last seen in Lacey on Oct. 24, 2019, at the age of 31.
• Susan Lundy, last seen in Olympia on June 30, 2019, at the age of 58.
• Matthew Anfeldt, last seen in Rochester on Feb. 28, 2019, at the age of 20.
• Jennifer Pagel, last seen in Olympia on Dec. 29, 2017, at the age of 28.
• Christine Wagner, last seen in Olympia on Oct. 10, 2016, at the age of 67.
• Gail Doyle, last seen in Olympia on June 2, 2016, at the age of 60.
• Logan Schiendelman, last seen in Tumwater on May 19, 2016, at the age of 19.
• Danielle Griffith, last seen in Tumwater in August 2014 at the age of 17. In February 2020, a set of remains found in Tumwater on May 17, 2019, were identified as hers.
• Steven Billman, last seen in Rochester on Jan. 10, 2014, at the age of 26.
• Willard Bennett, last seen in Olympia on Nov. 12, 2013, at the age of 73.
• Ryan Mayer, last seen in Olympia on Nov. 10, 2013, at the age of 33.
• Shantina Smiley, last seen in Olympia on March 13, 2010, at the age of 29.
• Nancy Moyer, last seen in Tenino on March 6, 2009, at the age of 36.
• Christopher Waltson, last seen in Olympia on June 29, 2007, at the age of 35.
• Gilbert Gilman, last seen in Hoodsport on June 24, 2006, at the age of 47.
• Karen Bodine, murdered by strangulation at the age of 37. Her body was found on Sargent Road Southwest in Rochester on Jan. 22, 2007.
• Jared Gigena, last seen in Rainier on Sept. 5, 2002, at the age of 20.
• Jonathan Corey, last seen in Olympia on Feb. 1, 2002, at the age of 20.
• Michelle Dickerman, last seen in Lacey on April 28, 2001, at the age of 41.
• Spencer Jolley, last seen in Lacey on May 12, 2000, at the age of 25.
• Craig Moilanen, last seen in Olympia on Jan. 6, 1999, at the age of 46.
• Bruce DeVoe, last seen in Tenino on Nov. 4, 1997, at the age of 40.
• James Henson, last seen in Olympia on Feb. 23, 1995, at the age of 56.
• Delight Watson, last seen in Lacey on May 12, 1993, at the age of 40.
• Consuelo Vannausdle, last seen in Lacey on May 1, 1993, at the age of 31.
• Allan Hill, last seen in Yelm on Sept. 18, 1987, at the age of 30.
• Karan Brown, last seen in Olympia on Jan. 1, 1980, at the age of 26.
• Russell Ashmun, last seen in Olympia on Sept. 22, 1979, at the age of 22.
• David Boniske, last seen in Olympia on July 23, 1977, at the age of 21.
• Donna Manson, last seen in Olympia on March 12, 1974, at the age of 19.
• Patricia K. Garrison, found stabbed in the hospital parking lot on Jan. 5, 1970, in Olympia. She died from her injuries two days later at the age of 17.
• Christopher Bridgeman Jr., last seen on Jan. 1, 1963, at the age of 33.
Unidentified Remains
Eight sets of unidentified remains were found in Thurston County between 1981 and 2018, according to NamUS. Of those eight, three were found in Olympia, one was found in rural Thurston County and one — an Asian male estimated to be between 20 and 50 years old — was found in Yelm.
•••
Editor’s note: If your loved one is missing from this list and you would like their name added, please email emily@chronline.com.
