Help Me Hayley: Cold Case Files

In 1984, two fishermen found a woman's torso in the Spokane River.  Fourteen years later, a skull police determined belonged to the same victim was discovered on the lower south hill.  It took nearly four decades, but a solid partnership between Spokane Police, the Spokane Medical Examiner's Office and advancements in DNA technology finally gave her, her name back.  The victim was Ruth Waymire.  The identity of her killer remains unknown.  Ruth is one of many these agencies have stopped at nothing to identify as they work tirelessly to name the nameless.

On August 1, 2026, detectives believe 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci deliberately started the Old Trails Fire in North Spokane County.  His alleged actions burned more than 3,200 acres and destroyed 694 homes.  Court documents say Farinacci admitted to starting that fire and more than 20 others because he finds fire "powerful" and "beautiful."  He's currently facing five counts of first-degree arson as detectives continue to investigate other unsolved crimes.  In this episode, we dig into the case against him and what could come next.

Wil Hendrick was a University of Idaho student pursuing a career in theatre.  In January of 1999, Wil left the residence he shared with his partner to meet up with friends for a party.  What happened after remains a mystery.  Wil's vehicle was later found in downtown Moscow with mud on the tires, and some odd discoveries inside.  The early days of searching turned into months and then years.  Wil's partial remains were eventually found in rural Latah County by some hunters.  Moscow Police are investigating the case as a murder, and both detectives and family members continue to urge anyone with information to please come forward.

In August 2008, two Grant County men were killed just hours apart after unknowingly plugging in devices that had been rigged to explode.

William "Bill" Walker, a retired electrician, found a battery charger outside his shop and brought it inside. When he plugged it in, the device exploded. Less than 10 hours later, Javier "Harvey" Adame was killed when an explosive device hidden inside a police scanner detonated inside his home.

The victims appeared to have no connection. Investigators from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, FBI, and ATF determined the devices were likely built by the same person, but nearly two decades later, no arrests have been made and no suspect has been publicly identified.

Why were these men targeted? Were they the intended victims? And who planted the deadly devices that terrorized a rural Washington community? 

In this episode of Cold Case Files, NonStop Local examines one of the most baffling unsolved murder investigations in Inland Northwest history. If you have any information regarding the deaths of William Walker or Javier Adam, contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office at (509) 754-2011.

Watch the Help Me Hayley cold case podcast now on the NonStop Local KHQ YouTube channel.

The July 1990 murder of 18-year-old Toni Tedder remains one of the most haunting unsolved cold cases in Clarkston, Washington and one of the Pacific Northwest’s enduring murder mysteries. Toni had just graduated from Clarkston High School and was sleeping on her family’s living room couch when she was stabbed to death while family members slept nearby. Investigators say a wood-handled fishing fillet-style knife was left near Toni Tedder’s body, and questions surrounding the unsolved Clarkston murder investigation continue decades later. Was Toni Tedder the victim of a random attack or a targeted killing, and why has the case never been solved despite witness accounts and physical evidence?

In this episode of Help Me Hayley: Cold Case, Hayley Guenthner speaks with Clarkston investigators and retraces the timeline of the 1990 Toni Tedder murder searching for clues that could finally help connect the community to justice. 

Watch the Help Me Hayley cold case podcast now on the NonStop Local KHQ YouTube channel.

The 1982 murder of 15-year-old Linda Strait was a cold case for more than 20 years. Advancements in DNA technology finally led Spokane Police to the teen's killer - Arbie Williams. Williams was already serving time for a separate case when detectives finally linked him to Linda's murder.

That case involved the kidnapping of two eight-year-old little girls outside of their Spokane Valley elementary school. An arrest and sentencing for Linda's case gave her loved ones a level of peace that they say is continually disrupted as he comes up for parole.

To watch our full Cold Case series, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel @NonStopLocalNews and ring the bell to be notified of every new episode, plus daily news updates.

Chris Jennings was your typical teen in the 80's. He was a busy student at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum. His family was very active in 4-H activities. That’s what they were busy doing on that September weekend when Chris seemingly vanished.


Now, more than 45 years later, what happened to him remains a bizarre and troubling mystery. But with fresh eyes now on the case and a determined family member turning up new potential leads, could answers finally be in reach?










If you enjoyed, follow us for more Cold Case File episodes, and subscribe to our YouTube channel @NonStopLocalNews to watch the full episodes!

Chris Jennings was your typical teenager in the 80's. He was prepping for his junior year at Lakeland High School in North Idaho, and his family was very active in 4-H activities. However, when the Jennings family was attending the North Idaho State Fair, Chris vanished. His parents believed he left to go to a party, but no one saw him ever again.

Now, nearly fifty years laters, the missing person's case has gone cold. But what clues could lead investigators to Chris' whereabouts? Did he simply vanish? Is Chris still with us? Catch all this in our latest Cold Case Files episode in our Help Me Hayley series.

If you enjoyed, follow us for more Cold Case File episodes, and subscribe to our YouTube channel @NonStopLocalNews to watch the full episodes!

Danielle Shinaver was brutally beaten and killed in her lower South Hill apartment in Spokane, Washington in March of 1996. The case has remained unsolved for decades. Now, both police and family are sharing new information with Hayley Guenthner. Could Danielle Shinaver’s own instincts to defend herself finally identify her murderer?

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (@NonStopLocalNews) for more in-depth stories on this case and more!

*REUPLOAD* On January 3, 1997 a woman named Margaret Anselmo was found brutally murdered. She had been raped and her skull was crushed in. The crime happened as the entire town and law enforcement was consumed by the Spokane serial killer case. It was clear Margaret was not one of this serial killer's many victims.

Now, after nearly 29 years, the family of homicide victim Margaret Anselmo finally have some answers about what happened that awful January day. Anselmo was fatally beaten and sexually assaulted in what investigators believe was most likely a ‘random act of violence.’

If you want to see more Help Me Hayley: Cold Case Files, be sure to follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel (@NonStopLocalNews) to be notified every time a new case drops.