The Murder Of Mandy Stavik [True Crime Documentary]

The murder of Mandy Stavik is a chilling true crime case that remained unsolved for nearly three decades before a shocking break led to the arrest of her killer.

The Disappearance of Mandy Stavik

Amanda "Mandy" Stavik was an 18-year-old college freshman at Central Washington University. She was home for Thanksgiving break in 1989, visiting her family in Acme, Washington, a small town in Whatcom County.

On November 24, 1989, Mandy went for a jog with her German Shepherd along Strand Road, a rural area near her home. When the dog returned home without her, Mandy’s family knew something was terribly wrong. A massive search began immediately.

The Discovery of Her Body

Three days later, on November 27, 1989, Mandy’s body was found in the South Fork of the Nooksack River. She was found nude, and authorities determined she had been sexually assaulted and drowned. However, no solid leads emerged, and the case went cold for nearly 30 years.

The Break in the Case

In 2013, the case was reopened with advancements in DNA technology. Investigators had DNA evidence from the crime scene but no match in any database. The breakthrough came in 2017 when a woman named Heather Backstrom told police about a former coworker, Timothy Bass, who had made her feel uncomfortable.

Bass had worked at a bakery in Whatcom County, and suspicions grew when he refused to voluntarily provide a DNA sample. His coworker, however, secretly obtained a discarded soda can and plastic cup from him, which authorities tested. The DNA was a match to the evidence found on Mandy’s body.

The Arrest and Conviction

Timothy Bass was arrested in December 2017. He denied any involvement but claimed he had consensual sex with Mandy, a claim that those who knew her found highly unlikely.
At trial, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Bass to the crime, and the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in 2019. He was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.

Legacy of the Case

The murder of Mandy Stavik haunted the small community of Acme for decades, but her family and investigators never gave up. The case stands as an example of how DNA evidence can finally bring long-awaited justice, even in cold cases.

• Mandy Stavik
• True Crime
• Cold Case
• Murder Investigation
• DNA Evidence
• Timothy Bass
• Acme, Washington
• Nooksack River
• Sexual Assault
• Jogging Disappearance
• 1989 Murder
• Criminal Conviction
• Forensic Breakthrough
• DNA Match
• Justice for Mandy

Mandy Stavik, True Crime, Cold Case, Murder Investigation, DNA Evidence, Timothy Bass, Acme Washington, Nooksack River, Sexual Assault, Jogging Disappearance, 1989 Murder, Criminal Conviction, Forensic Breakthrough, DNA Match, Justice for Mandy