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Four months after the murders of hikers Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden, there are still no suspects. A special investigation looks at the issue of law enforcement on the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, the crime scene investigation and also talks with the victims’ husband and father, David Stodden.

By Andrew Engelson and huckleberry turning color in the brief patrolling for signs of car prowls or suspi- autumn before snow falls. Trails here are cious activity. On Patrol familiar to many hikers from Everett Early on, he responded to a report of On a recent Sunday in October, Forest and the Puget Sound area: Lake 22, gunfire not far from the Verlot public Service law enforcement officer Mike Boardman Lake, the Walt Bailey Trail, service center. The suspects—several Gardiner set out to patrol the southern Mount Dickerman, Headlee Pass and youths—were found, and in possession half of the Mountain Loop Highway. His the historic Monte Cristo town site. of alcohol and marijuana. plan for the day was relatively simple: Gardiner is one of just four armed law Gardiner wrote tickets for sundry of- drive his patrol vehicle, a white Chevy enforcement rangers currently tasked fenses and impounded evidence. Further pickup, 20 miles up the Mountain Loop, with keeping the peace on the Mount up the road, he stops a car for speeding, a popular route into the and Gardiner finds the driver has Mount Baker Snoqualmie There are only five armed law enforcement a suspended license. The suspect National Forest. Driving is booked and sent to jail. The rest east from the town of Gran- officers working the entire Mount Baker of the day, Gardiner spends time ite Falls, he would check in Snoqualmie National Forest. I asked Rob Iwa- on a number of administrative at trailheads, campgrounds moto, forest supervisor for the Mount Baker tasks: writing reports, cataloging and other Forest Service Snoqualmie, if five officers was adequate to evidence. sites to the end of the enforce laws and protect public safety on the It had been an 11-hour day, Mountain Loop. and he’d made it only 12 miles up The road winds through forest: “No,” he said flatly. the road. “That’s a typical day,” the valley of the South Gardiner told me. “There’s just Fork Stillaguamish River, not enough of me to go around. a recreational paradise. Peppered along Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, You have to determine what are the most the road are trailheads to alpine lakes, which spans 140 miles of the Cascade egregious crimes and go after those.” to summits with commanding views, Range from Mount Rainier to the “Legally, I can only work 14 hours a and—at this time of year—the brazen Canadian border. Gardiner started his shift, but I’m permitted to do 16 with reds and yellows of vine maple, willow day early, checking in at campgrounds, approval,” he told me. “That’s a common

WASHINGTON TRAILS November/December 2006 Trail News pickard S teve Steve Spickard, a friend S of David Stodden, the husband and father of the victims, has been to the Pinnacle Lake area over a dozen times since the murders. “It’s likely the suspect just ran down the trail, but for anyone with a little experience in bushwhacking off trail, there are all kinds of options to get in and out of there.”

occurrence all summer long.” of the county. Baker Snoqualmie Forest to help prevent One trailhead Gardiner often visits on “It’s a rare and tragic event,” Gardiner another murder like this from happen- his patrol of the Mountain Loop is the said of the killings. “But being so close ing again? Pinnacle Lake Trail. to an urban area, events like this are On the morning of July 11, 2006, going to occur.” The Forest Seattle hikers Susanna Stodden, 27 In nearly four months since the mur- There are only five armed law enforce- and her mother, Mary Cooper 56, set ders, much has changed and nothing ment officers working the entire Mount out for quick 4-mile hike to Pinnacle has changed. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, a 1.7- Lake and back. Some time on that day, Some hikers have modified their million acre parcel of public land larger somewhere on this short trail to a lovely hiking habits. Some have resolutely than the state of Delaware. The Mount little alpine tarn, the two women were continued to hike as they did before. Baker Snoqualmie is the fourth-most- shot and killed. A hiker discovered the Some hike in pairs. Some carry guns. visited national forest in the country, bodies not long after the two women had Some have avoided the Mountain Loop largely because it’s within a 70-mile died. The terrified hiker returned to the area completely. drive from 3.63 million people in the trailhead, ice ax at the ready, made his And four months later, no suspects Puget Sound area. Four law enforce- way to the campground at Gold Basin, have been identified, according to Rich ment officers are currently working the and contacted authorities to report the Niebusch, a spokesperson for the Sno- forest—one position is vacant and has murder. homish County Sheriff’s office. Four yet to be filled. Gardiner was called in that day to months after Pinnacle Lake there are I asked Rob Iwamoto, forest supervisor assist the Snohomish County Sheriff’s many unanswered questions: how and for the Mount Baker Snoqualmie, if five office to close the trail so that sheriff’s why were Mary Cooper and Susanna officers was adequate to enforce laws and deputies and detectives could begin their Stodden killed? Has the criminal in- protect public safety on the forest. investigation. Though the forest partners vestigation been handled in a manner “No,” he said flatly. “And the reason with the sheriff’s office to patrol the for- that will find the killer and secure a is, we’re seeing more and more use, and est, investigations are the responsibility conviction? And is there enough law with that, conflicts on public land.” enforcement presence on the Mount

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I think one thing that affected people was the horrendous way in which they died. And I think it touched a lot of people, particularly hikers. Hiking is just something that so many of us value as a right around here. Both Mary and Susan were active volunteers—on a daily and weekly basis—and I think that impressed a lot of people. —David Stodden

WASHINGTON TRAILS November/December 2006 Trail News

Each of the five law enforcement of- interactions,” said Iwamoto. “This event made four separate DUI arrests in one ficers is based out of each ranger district reminds us we have to be prepared for evening this summer. It’s just crazy. It in the forest: Mount Baker, Darrington, human-human interactions.” keeps you very busy.” Skykomish, North Bend, and Enum- Even though violent crime is rare, Still, Gardiner believes they’ve made claw. Mike Gardiner, based out of the there are plenty of other crimes to keep progress, particularly in cracking down Darrington District, is responsible for rangers busy on the forest. Iwamoto lists on weekend parties. “It’s better than it an area reaching from Mount Pilchuck a litany of challenges his rangers face was three years ago.” to the Suiattle River to the crest of the daily: drug smuggling, methamphet- But the fact remains, that despite Cascades. Unlike most rangers, their heroic efforts, rangers law enforcement officers in the Mike Gardiner has seen it all along the here in Washington state and Forest Service do not report to Mountain Loop: dumped stolen cars, re- across the nation are having the district rangers, but to the a harder time dealing with regional office. mains of meth labs, wild parties. “I made a growing portfolio of law When a crime is committed four separate DUI arrests in one evening enforcement problems. Rang- on Forest Service land, it is the this summer. It’s just crazy. It keeps you ers—even those without police responsibility of local authorities very busy.” powers—can have an effect (usually county sheriff’s offices) on reducing criminal activity to investigate and solve crimes. merely by their presence. But Rangers and law enforcement officers amine labs, illegal parking, non-payment according to Iwamoto, the number of assist and can make arrests or issue of campground fees, domestic violence, rangers is declining precipitously. citations, but do not actively investigate partying, random shooting, dogs off In 2005, the Mount Baker Snoqualmie crimes. leash, illegal ORV riding, alcohol, had over 250 temporary employees and The murders at Pinnacle Lake have rowdiness, vandalism, car prowls and 125 permanent employees. This year, had “profound impact on us in the Forest marijuana growing. because of budget cuts and staff attri- Service,” said Iwamoto. “Ralph Waldo “These types of activities aren’t going tion, there were less than 200 temporary Emerson said, ‘What lies behind us and to decrease as the urban interface with employees. Many of these were work- what lies before us are small matters the forest grows,” said Iwamoto. Grow- ing on fire crews this season, making compared to what lies within us.’” ing populations—especially in the urban for even fewer employees engaging in “This was a horrendous tragedy. Ob- and suburban West—and relatively easy public interaction in campgrounds and viously, all of us have concerns about access are making National Forests a the backcountry. how this is going to effect recreation. place where crime is ever present, and “We’re losing our most experienced But these types of events are very rare where budgets for forest service staff people,” Iwamoto told me, frustration on public land. We have to keep that in are declining. clearly in his voice. “That’s the kind perspective.” A recent article in the New York of experience you don’t pick up in a Violent crime on public lands is indeed Times noted that in the last decade, the book.” rare, although there are a few instances. number of Forest Service rangers with In Washington, perhaps the last murder law enforcement power has been nearly The Rangers involved a man who pushed his wife off halved, down to 550 from 980. Each law There is one book that is particularly a cliff in the Olympic National Forest in enforcement officer, the article went on relevant to the issue of crime on public 1992. Two women were murdered on the to say, is responsible for protecting, on lands. Nature Noir is an account by Appalachian Trail in 1996. The murder average, 291,000 acres. Jordan Fisher Smith of the fourteen four women in Yosemite National Park I asked both Rob Iwamoto and Peter years he spent working as a park ranger in 1999 garnered national headlines. A Forbes, the new district ranger for the on California’s American River in the couple camping in Oregon’s Willamette Darrington District, if their rangers Sierra Nevada. His book is about the National Forest was found shot to death were doing anything differently after dark side of the ranger’s life—during in July 2005. Pinnacle Lake. They both answered that his time working in an area that had But the fact remains that statistically, little has changed. Iwamoto noted that been abandoned as a “no man’s land” the risk of a being slain on a hiking the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Depart- where a planned dam would flood the trail are miniscule. Falls, getting lost, ment has increased patrols in the area. valley, three dozen people died from hypothermia, lightning strikes or even Mike Gardiner patrols in conjunction accidents, murders and suicides. Smith relatively rare animal attacks are much with an officer from SCSD, and he says had formerly worked for the U.S. Forest more probable than homicide. But the that partnership is invaluable. Service and National Park Service, and Pinnacle Lake killings reminded us Mike Gardiner has seen it all along his book is a meditation on the many that they are a possibility. “Before, you the Mountain Loop: dumped stolen cars, law enforcement challenges rangers are had to be prepared for bear-human remains of meth labs, wild parties. “I increasingly forced to face.

November/December 2006 WASHINGTON TRAILS Trail News

“The process of regulating public lands “A national park ranger is thirteen on national park land, rangers actively is not all about altruism,” Smith told me in times as likely to be killed in the line of conduct the investigation. an interview. “It has always involved law duty as a DEA agent,” Smith told me, On a national forest, only a few select enforcement.” In his book he talks about citing figures from a 2001 Justice Depart- rangers are certified in law enforcement. early law enforcement efforts at Yosemite ment study. In addition, in national parks, The remaining forest protection offi- and Yellowstone National Parks. “After the average number of acres covered cers can cite offenders, but don’t carry Yellowstone was founded in 1872 almost by ranger has increased. In 1980, there weapons. Law enforcement rangers don’t immediately after it became a report to local district rangers refuge for ne’er-do-wells.” I ask him how this might relate to the and investigations of crimes Things have changed since are conducted by local sheriff’s World War II—most impor- Pinnacle Lake murders. Smith answers offices. “There’s a greater tantly, ease of access. Smith says with a question. continuity of law enforcement that most problems on federal “If there had been a Forest Service wilder- in national parks,” said Smith, lands have come from easier ness ranger camped at that lake, would “the Forest Service has all access afforded by gasoline en- these other missions rather gines. “If someone has to hike in things have turned out differently?” than recreation and resource 3 or 4 miles, it’s generally safer protection.” there.” Law enforcement officers are Of course, the Pinnacle Lake case is was one ranger per 34,000 acres—in few and far between on National Forests. the rare exception, and “a single murder July of this year it was one ranger per And unlike some of their National Park doesn’t represent a pattern,” Smith in- 42,000 acres. counterparts, they can’t close the gates sists. And in his personal experience and “The likelihood of running into a per- of the park at night, and often don’t live in discussions with park rangers (many son who is a law enforcement officer on within the forest boundaries. during the media tour for his book) Smith federal land is very low,” Smith said. “The Forest Service’s law enforce- is convinced that the backcountry is in Things are even bleaker on National ment approach has not worked, in my better shape than it was ten years ago. Forest land. Unlike the National Park estimation,” said Smith. He also points to With that said, however, Smith is quick Service, law enforcement is not inte- declining numbers of rangers in the field to point out that rangers are stretched gral to the U.S. Forest Service’s ranger and increasing reliance on volunteers thin by declining budgets, and crime on system. On National Parks, all park as a disturbing trend. “We’re leaving public lands. “Individual rangers are be- rangers are trained in law enforcement, people to their own devices. And when leaguered, burned out and overwhelmed and police work is integrated into the you do that, you risk turning the land by what they face,” he said. ranger program. If a crime is committed into a law-free zone” amily F todden S the of ourte s y C

WASHINGTON TRAILS November/December 2006 Trail News

Smith is quick to point out he has the killer had singled out the victims as with a little experience in bushwhacking nothing for respect for rangers and the women and lesbians. The case sat cold off trail, there are all kinds of options to work they do: “they’re highly trained and for many years until an indictment was get in and out of there.” do a good job despite being so isolated.” announced in 2002. DNA evidence taken On July 11, the day of the murders, the And Smith admits he enjoyed his work from hair samples proved inconclusive, trail, the access road (FS 4021), and the as a ranger: “I did enjoy it. At times however, and the case was dropped in crime scene were all closed off by late it was very scary when there weren’t 2004. There was some indication that the afternoon, according to both Snohomish enough of us.” killer was in fact a convicted murderer County Sheriff’s Department and For- There will never be a ranger at every named Richard Evonitz, who commit- est Service officials. The investigation high lake and trailhead (nor would hik- ted suicide in prison in 2002. The case was undertaken by Snohomish County ers want it that way), but even a small remains largely unsolved. detectives, who have jurisdiction in the presence can help deter crime. Mike According to Anne Bremner, a Seattle case. Gardiner, law enforcement officer for attorney and legal analyst, a seemingly “During that time they’re going to be the Darrington District, noted scouring the area for ballistics, that when rangers patrol a certain “It’s rare to have such a huge crime scene,” footprints, tire prints, shell trailhead at night, crimes such as said Bremner. “The suspect could have casings,” said Bremner. “They car prowls decrease. He told me gone anywhere.” look for trace hair fibers and that there was no law enforcement anything that might contain officer working the Darrington DNA: saliva, semen, or blood District for two years after an of- spatter.” ficer retired, “and crime went up until random case such as this is rare and After conducting their initial investi- the position was filled.” Gardiner indi- difficult. gation, SCSD allowed the trail and road cated to me he thought the Mount Baker “They’re very difficult to solve,” to be reopened on July 13. The Seattle Snoqualmie National Forest could easily Bremner said in an interview. “There’s Post-Intelligencer reported the trail that double the number of law enforcement a longer investigatory period and less day was “open, muddy and deserted.” officers working the forest. information to share with the public.” The trail was closed two days later and Unarmed rangers working trails and Often, investigators reveal few details then reopened on July 21. The question the backcountry can also help provide about the case, to protect information on many observers’ minds, especially deterrence. “The presence of a uniform that only the killer would know and that a group of hikers discussing the issue is reassuring,” said Smith. could help identify the suspect. on www.nwhikers.com is: why was the I ask him how this might relate to the Murders on hiking trails and in fed- trail reopened and then closed again? Pinnacle Lake murders. Smith answers eral recreation areas are extremely rare. There were reports that some hikers with a question. “There are very few violent homicides had visited the crime scene between “If there had been a Forest Service on hiking trails,” she said. “It’s truly an the two closures. wilderness ranger camped at that lake, anomaly.” Rich Niebush, a spokesperson for would things have turned out differ- This case in particular provides unique the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Of- ently?” challenges, particularly the crime scene. fice, defended the decision to reopen Although there is a single trailhead and the trail. “The immediate investigation The Investigation trail to Pinnacle Lake, where the women was conducted fully, competently, and There have been very few crimes were found, there is an almost infinite professionally,” Niebusch said in an in- similar to the murder of Mary Cooper number of routes the killer could have terview. He would not disclose why the and Susanna Stodden. taken to get the scene of the crime, or trail was closed again other than to say About the closest case in recent to leave it. “It’s rare to have such a huge it was common for investigations to do memory was the slaying of two women, crime scene,” said Bremner. “The suspect additional follow up outside of the initial Julianne Marie Williams and Laura “Lol- could have gone anywhere.” crime scene. “We would do it exactly the lie” Winans in May 1996 near a stretch Steve Spickard, a friend of David same if we had to do it again,” he said. of the Appalachian Trail in Shenan- Stodden, the husband and father of the Crime scene contamination is a doah National Park in Virginia. The two victims, has been to the Pinnacle Lake significant issue in many high-profile women were camped not far from the area over a dozen times since the mur- murder cases. The murder of Seattle trail, and were discovered bound and ders. He’s explored abandoned roads, prosecutor Tom Wales, which remains gagged, with their throats slit. hiked off trail from Pinnacle Lake to unsolved after five years, has been An extensive investigation by the Na- Lake 22, and scoured the surrounding plagued by the issue of a compromised tional Park Service and FBI led to some forest for plausible routes for the killer crime scene. The O.J. Simpson and Jon 15,000 tips. The case was prosecuted or killers to have taken. “It’s likely they Benet Ramsey cases also faltered on the as a hate crime because it was thought just ran down the trail, but for anyone issue of contamination.

November/December 2006 WASHINGTON TRAILS Trail News

“A compromised scene can really hurt a case,” said Bremner. Any evidence amily found after the trail was reopened could F potentially be suspect. “Take a shell todden casing—what if someone came along S the and kicked it?” of

David Stodden told me that an FBI agent confided to him he would have ourte s y C kept the trail and road closed longer, “perhaps even now.” Niebusch insists that the scene was handled well. “It’s not that they missed something and had to close it again.” And Bremner has confidence that the SCSD has the expertise to do the job well. “Crime scene investigators, medical examiners—they’re experienced profes- sionals and do an incredible job.” The Mary Cooper and David Stodden during a trip to Alaska. “Mary and sheriff’s office has worked in conjunc- Susanna were really positive people, people who believed that the world tion with the State Patrol, King County can get better,” David said in a recent interview. Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI on the investigation. Officials aren’t releasing many details An Interview with David Stodden in the case. [Although shortly before this issue went to press, SCSD revealed they had brought a criminal profiler on the On July 11, 2006, David Stodden What message would you case, and released the details that both lost a daughter and wife to a killer want to give to hikers after this women were shot in the head.] But if it on the Pinnacle Lake Trail. The horrible tragedy? You’d gone was a random attack, it’s quite possible days since have no doubt been more on several hikes soon after the there are few clues and not much of a difficult than any of us can imagine. murder, for instance, which motive. In that case, the investigation But through it all David and his seemed to send a message. could easily take years. “If a case isn’t daughters Elisa and Joanna have solved in the first 24 hours, you’re going maintained a tremendous amount Well, everybody has to assess their to have a problem,” said Bremner. The of courage: in all their talk with own situation, you can’t really gen- Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway serial media, and in the celebrations of the eralize. Everyone has to decide how murder cases took decades to solve, and lives of Mary Cooper and Susanna they’re going to react. Whether or only after a few bits of evidence or wit- Stodden, they have resolved to focus not you’re safe sometimes depends ness testimony clicked into place. The on the positive. The memorial held on your confidence, how you feel, Appalachian Trail murders took six years at Seattle’s Ballard High School how you hold yourself. I’ve been up to find a suspect, only to have charges this past July was a celebration to the spot where Mary and Susanna dropped two years later. of the lives of two “card-carrying were murdered three times since “You build information, you create optimists,” women who believed then. Mostly we were in shock at profile, and you may catch the suspect passionately in the ability to do that point. We hiked in groups, but after some time,” Bremner said. good in the world. In the months I would probably take more precau- Media exposure and a reward can since the murders, David Stodden tions in hindsight. help to generate tips, “but it’s not a has kept busy: giving interviews, salvation,” said Bremner. “Some cases working with CrimeStoppers, an At the memorial, there was have gone on for decades, and still had organization dedicated to helping a huge outpouring of support, no resolution.”  solve crimes, and organizing volun- and it was clear that Mary and teer events in Mary and Susanna’s Susanna had touched the lives Anyone with information on the case honor. He talked last month with of so many people. What do or who was in the vicinity of Pinnacle Washington Trails. you think was behind all this Lake on the July 11 is urged to contact outpouring? CrimeStoppers at (206) 343-2020 or 1-800-CRIME-13.

WASHINGTON TRAILS November/December 2006 Trail News

I think one thing that affected interest in it, though. that the world can get better. My people was the horrendous way daughters remind me of that every in which they died. And I think it How well do you believe the other day. I’ve been really fortunate touched a lot of people, particularly case has been investigated? to raise our kids in this community hikers. Hiking is just something and in the Seattle public schools, that so many of us value as a right At first they [the Snohomish Coun- where there’s this feeling that the around here. I’ve had about fifty ty Sheriff’s Department] seemed as world can become better. So we’ve letters from hikers, some who think though they were frustrated with focused on the positive, and tried to differently about it now—but all of understanding the nature of the do positive things. them still hiking. And about twenty crime and it does seem with such a And we’ve surrounded ourselves letters from people who have been high profile crime there should be with so many positive people. You personally affected by tragedy. more tips coming in. I think they know, that’s a choice you make. And also, I think because we’ve could have done a better job of ap- It hasn’t always been easy. But lived in this city for thirty years, pealing to the public for information, we’re staying the course. We’ve we’ve been connected to a lot of especially specific information from done memorial tree plantings and people in a lot of different ways. different trailheads in the area, and invasive plant removal. And that feels Both Mary and Susan were active I’m not sure why they didn’t do that. really good. Keeping busy helps me volunteers—on a daily and weekly However, they have been working personally. Instead of sitting around basis—and I think that impressed hard on the case, and I’m confident feeling sorry for myself, I try to keep a lot of people. that it will be solved. busy. I’ve been learning a lot about CrimeStoppers and all the work And you’ve hiked in the Moun- I talked to the supervisor of they do. I’d like to talk to one of tain Loop area a lot? the Mount Baker Snoqualmie the surviving victims of the Jewish National Forest and he indicated Federation shooting. I carried my daughter on my back to me that the fact they have up many of those trails, and we’ve only five law enforcement of- That was right down the street probably camped in the Mountain ficers working the entire forest from our offices at WTA. Loop area about fifty times. Person- is not adequate. How do you feel ally, I’ve probably hiked in the area about this? And that’s another case of men a hundred times. It’s just so close. who have gone and killed women. I’ll usually do Mount Dickerman Well, I think we need to have more And the gun he had was easy to five times a year—the trailhead is Forest Service people in general. It get. It’s so easy to get guns, and so easy to get to. seems like they’ve had a lot of cuts. I I’ve thought a lot more about that. remember you used to see a lot more I think that’s a question we need to How have you felt about media rangers out on the trails. Why would ask ourselves: why is it so easy to get coverage of the case? you want to spend less resources on guns? Why is it that Americans are that? To help people enjoy it, you four times more likely to be killed I think in general the media have know, it’s a positive thing for people by guns than Canadians? been pretty supportive. Most people to experience. It’s like cutting art get it, and how it has affected hik- out of the schools—after a while, it’s Is there anything else that ers—and women. Women reporters like what’s the point? We spend a lot you’d like to say? in the media really get it—they of money on other things, why not understand that this was a crime this? There are some real treasures The important thing that we want against women. I’ve talked to women out there. to focus on is getting more tips, so who have even altered how they walk this case can be solved. in the city at night after this. The memorial for Mary and Susanna was so amazing, so Anyone with information on the Do you worry that the story is positive. Where do you find the case or who was in the vicinity dropping from the public eye? strength to get through this? of Pinnacle Lake on the July 11 is urged to contact CrimeStop- A retired detective told me that Mary and Susanna were really pers at (206)343-2020 or detectives work harder when a story positive people, people who believed 1-800-CRIME-13.  is in the news. It’s hard to sustain

November/December 2006 WASHINGTON TRAILS