In this haunting and powerful episode, host Kaydee takes listeners to October 16, 1903, when the booming timber town of Aberdeen, Washington, was nearly reduced to ashes by one of the most devastating urban fires in state history.

Aberdeen, a coastal city built almost entirely from wood, was thriving at the turn of the century — its economy driven by logging, sawmills, and maritime trade. But that prosperity came with risk. Buildings, sidewalks, even streets were made of timber and layered with sawdust — a virtual tinderbox waiting for a spark.

That spark came from a mysterious source — possibly a cigarette or faulty stove — in the Arctic Hotel (also called the Mack Building). Fanned by harbor winds, the blaze quickly exploded into an uncontrollable firestorm. Within hours, it consumed nearly 140 buildings, 20 acres of downtown, and caused over $1 million in damage — the equivalent of nearly $35 million today.

Kaydee guides listeners through the eerie escalation of the disaster — from frantic bucket brigades to exploding gas tanks, from the collapse of the fire station itself to the release of jail inmates who fought the fire alongside townspeople. The scene was chaotic and heroic, marked by loss, fear, and moments of extraordinary courage.

Despite desperate efforts, the fire devastated the heart of Aberdeen. Three people died, countless businesses and homes were destroyed, and residents were left in shock as smoke choked the skies and silence fell over the smoldering ruins.

But this episode is not just about destruction. It’s about what came next.

With powerful archival sources and vivid detail, Kaydee narrates how Aberdeen began rebuilding almost immediately. Neighbors sheltered each other, churches became relief centers, and aid poured in from nearby towns like Hoquiam and Montesano. Former prisoners who had helped fight the flames were even pardoned or had their sentences reduced.

The fire changed Aberdeen forever. In its wake, the city passed new building codes banning wooden construction downtown. It replaced its volunteer fire brigade with a professional department, installed hydrants, and invested in a municipal water system. Fire safety became part of public culture — taught in schools and enforced through inspections.

The transformation was not just physical. Aberdeen learned from its trauma, emerging stronger and more resilient. Its brick buildings still stand today, silent witnesses to a city that refused to be broken.

Sources:

• HistoryLink.org – Aberdeen Fire Overview
• NYT Archive (1903)
• Picryl & Wikimedia Commons – Historic Images
• Jones Photo & Asahel Curtis Collection
• Aberdeen Museum Friends

In November 1901, a routine civil warrant in the Pacific Northwest turned deadly. In the boomtown of Cosmopolis, Washington—where timber mills ran nonstop and the law walked on shaky ground—Town Marshal Silas W. Smith, age 57, was gunned down while attempting to disarm a local man during a property dispute.

The shooter claimed he was within his rights to be armed as a U.S. mail carrier, sparking a legal debate that would result in a conviction, not for murder, but manslaughter. He was sentenced to ten years... and paroled in less than six.

But who was Marshal Smith? Why was Cosmopolis so volatile at the turn of the century? And how did a quiet town marshal become one of the earliest known line-of-duty deaths in Grays Harbor County?

In this episode, host Kaydee dives into:

• The violent altercation that took Marshal Smith’s life
• The blurred boundaries between local and federal authority
• The legal system of the early 1900s
• Cosmopolis’s gritty, industrial identity during Washington’s timber boom
• How Smith’s story was nearly lost—and what brought it back

This immersive 20-minute episode weaves together rich narrative, sound design, and original historical research to illuminate one man’s forgotten sacrifice in a dangerous era of Western law enforcement.

Sources & Historical References:

• Behind the Badge Foundation. Marshal Silas W. Smith – Line of Duty Death Roll Call. https://behindthebadgefoundation.org/rollcall/smith-marshal-silas-w
• Officer Down Memorial Page. Marshal Silas W. Smith. https://www.odmp.org/officer/12641-marshal-silas-w-smith
• HistoryLink.org. Grays Harbor County – A Brief History
• Cosmopolis incorporation records (1891) and local government archives
• Washington State Archives – Civil and Criminal Dockets (Grays Harbor County, early 1900s)
• Logging and labor history from: Tassin, Eloise. “Washington’s Timber Frontier”, Pacific Northwest Quarterly
• U.S. Postal Regulations and Authority Laws, c. 1900 (National Archives, RG 28)
• Federal Mail Carrier Protections – Congressional Records, 1898–1901
• General timeline and context from: White, Richard. It’s Your Misfortune and None of My Own: A New History of the American West. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.

On the night of February 2, 1963, three individuals — Reinhart Nelson, John Patrick Jr., and Alberta “Dolly” Burns — drove through a rainy Grays Harbor night with one goal: to rob Dan Damitio, a quiet grocer and Army veteran believed to carry large amounts of cash.

But their plan unraveled quickly. Shots were fired, and Dan Damitio lay dead in his home. What followed was more than just a murder case — it became a legal battle that would make its way to the Washington State Supreme Court and redefine due process in the state.

In this episode, we examine the tragic events that led to Dan's death and the deeply flawed trials that followed. Nelson, already known to police, was convicted of first-degree murder under the felony-murder rule. But his conviction was reversed after critical errors in the courtroom were exposed, including the introduction of a co-defendant’s hearsay confession and prosecutorial misconduct related to the Fifth Amendment.

We dive into the powerful legal questions raised in State v. Nelson (72 Wn.2d 269), a case that tested the boundaries of the Confrontation Clause, due process, expert witness admissibility, and the ethics of courtroom strategy. The story we uncover is not only about crime — it's about the importance of fair trials and the rights of the accused.

Featuring background on each person involved — from Dan Damitio's quiet life and military service, to the complex histories of Nelson, Patrick, and Burns — this episode paints a full picture of a case that still influences Washington’s justice system today.

🔎 Sources include:

• Washington Digital Archives
• Justia Law: State v. Nelson (1967)
• Grays Harbor County historical and legal records

If you enjoy deep dives into criminal cases that shaped legal precedent, follow and rate Only Murders on the Harbor wherever you listen. Your support keeps the stories alive — because justice is more than a verdict.

In this episode, host Kaydee continues the story of Brian Bassett, who at age 16 committed the tragic murders of his parents, Michael and Wendy Bassett, and his 5-year-old brother Austin in McCleary, Washington in 1995.

Part 2 focuses on the legal aftermath, including key Supreme Court rulings like Miller v. Alabama that banned mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles. We follow Brian’s multiple resentencing hearings, the impact of Washington State’s Miller-Fix Law, and the emotional courtroom moments involving family testimony and arguments from the defense and prosecution.

The episode also covers Brian’s release in January 2024 under strict parole supervision, public and family reactions, and the broader issues of juvenile justice, rehabilitation, and community healing.

Note: Some storytelling is dramatized for effect, but all factual details are drawn from verified court records and public documents.

Resources

• Miller v. Alabama (2012) Supreme Court Decision
• Washington State Miller-Fix Law (RCW 9.94A.729):
• Local news: Grays Harbor County Superior Court coverage: https://www.chronline.com
• NIJ: Juvenile Sentencing & Rehabilitation Research: https://www.nij.gov/topics/courts/pages/juvenile-sentencing.aspx

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On August 10, 1995, 16-year-old Brian Bassett murdered his parents and younger brother in McCleary, Washington. This episode covers the events leading up to the crime, the trial, and how this case sparked a decades-long legal journey that would impact juvenile sentencing in the state.

👉 Part 2 coming soon: We’ll cover Bassett’s resentencing, legal appeals, and his eventual release.

⚠️ Content Warning

This episode includes a discussion of familicide and juvenile incarceration. Listener discretion is advised.

📚 Sources

• The Chronicle: Grays Harbor County Man Gets New Sentence
• KING 5 News: Brian Bassett Resentenced
• KXRO News: Bassett Released from Prison
• Seattle Times Archive: Slain Family Feared Son
• New York Times: 2 Teen-Agers Held
• Spokesman-Review: Teen Convicted
• FindLaw: Court of Appeals - State v. Bassett
• Justia: WA Supreme Court (1999)
• WA Courts: Majority Opinion PDF
• Juvenile Law Center: Petition for Review PDF
• Seattle U Law Review: Mandatory Juvenile LWOP
• The Olympian: Bassett Family Murder Coverage

💬 Like what you heard? Follow, rate, and review Only Murders on the Harbor on your favorite podcast app to support the show!

📧 Questions, tips, or story suggestions? Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we explore two haunting cold cases from the Pacific Northwest—one still unsolved, and another finally closed after nearly 50 years through the power of forensic genealogy.

Case 1: Elma 1988 Jane Doe On October 24, 1988, skeletal remains were found off a remote logging road near Elma, WA. The woman had been killed by a gunshot to the head, likely between 1982 and 1988. She was about 28 years old, 5 feet tall, and possibly of Native American or Southeast Asian descent. Her jaw had been broken near the time of death.

She was fully clothed in a men’s blue Loren Scott shirt, black Venezia pants, a floral blouse, slip-on shoes (worn only briefly), a pearl ring (Avon, Winter 1981), and a gold earring with five blue sapphires. A woman’s inside-out shirt was nearby. The scene suggested she was killed where she was found—five miles from the nearest paved road. Despite extensive DNA testing and outreach to tribes, her identity remains a mystery.

If you have information, contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711.

Sources:

• DNA Doe Project: https://dnadoeproject.org/case/grays-harbor-co-jane-doe-1988/
• KIRO 7: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/can-you-help-murdered-womans-remains-found-near-elma-still-unidentified-after-nearly-36-years/WQDUWHCX5BGEFERVJPVS6D6P3I/

Case 2: Annie Marie Lehman (1970–1971) Annie, 17, vanished from Aberdeen, WA, in 1971. Rumors tied her disappearance to human trafficking. Witnesses said she left with an older woman possibly linked to San Francisco. A year later, in August 1971, a father and son camping in Josephine County, OR, found a young woman’s remains in a forested dump site. Near her were a hunting knife, a map of Northern California campgrounds, and 38 cents.

The victim—nicknamed “Jane Annie Doe”—was about 5'4", 125 lbs, with dyed red hair and buck teeth. She wore a sterling ring with the initials “MH” and a mother-of-pearl ring with an “A” scratched in. A clay reconstruction by forensic artist Joyce Nagy in 2004 was named “Annie.”

In 2016, isotope analysis pointed to northeastern U.S. origins. In 2017, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the DNA Doe Project reopened the case. After degraded DNA recovery and tracing family trees across Canada, England, and New Zealand, a sibling match confirmed her identity. On March 12, 2019, Jane Doe was identified as Anne Marie Lehman, solving Josephine County’s oldest cold case.

If you have info, contact Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123, Case #71-940.

Sources:

• Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/404ufor.html
• KOMO News: https://komonews.com/news/local/human-remains-found-in-woods-nearly-50-years-ago-idd-as-missing-wash-girl
• The Daily World: https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/is-annie-doe-annie-lehman/

Case 1: Grays Harbor County John Doe (1997)

In April 1997, the partial remains of an unidentified white male were found washed ashore near Grayland, Washington. Estimated to be between his late teens and early 20s, about 5'11", and 170 pounds, the man had extensive dental work, including four stainless steel crowns and a missing or gapped front tooth. Due to advanced decomposition, the cause of death and other physical features like hair and eye color remain unknown. The case remains open with few leads, and authorities encourage tips via the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department, NamUs, or the Doe Project. If you have any information or tips to provide in helping to identify the John Doe from Grayland found in 1997 please contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department at 360-249-3711.

Sources:

UnIdentified Awarness: https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Grays_Harbor_County_John_Doe_(1997)

UnCovered Cases: https://uncovered.com/cases/1997-grays-harbor-county-john-doe

Case 2: Lyle Stevik (2001)

In September 2001, a man using the alias "Lyle Stevik" checked into the Quinault Inn in Amanda Park, Washington, and died by suicide two days later. He left behind a simple note and $160 in cash for his unused stay. His true identity remained unknown for years. Described as possibly of mixed ancestry (Native American, Hispanic, and African-American), aged 20–30, he had no luggage and had lost significant weight recently. DNA, dental, and fingerprint data were collected but yielded no matches. In 2018, with help from the DNA Doe Project, his identity was confirmed through genetic genealogy. He was a 25-year-old man from Alameda County, California. His family, who had thought he had chosen to leave, was notified, and his remains were returned to them. His real name was never publicly released to protect their privacy.

Sources:

KXRO: https://www.kxro.com/lyle-stevik-identified-closing-16-1-2-year-old-unsolved-case/

DNA Doe Project: https://dnadoeproject.org/case/lyle_stevik/

Santa Fe New Mexican News: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/dead-man-found-in-washington-state-who-had-ties-to-n-m-id-d-through/article_00accfb7-b964-5a57-a9ae-ed6841bb2917.html

Grays Harbor County Case File: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14YajWIFMjtVviqLVcUJ4QWQ-JmKpW6dEgz6zbhi9MZw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.2bwlkka8zvvy

Medium Magazine: https://medium.com/mel-magazine/the-strange-case-of-the-man-with-no-name-13691028e07e

The Daily World: https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/man-found-dead-in-amanda-park-motel-in-2001-positively-identified-as-california-man/

In this gripping final chapter of Only Murders on the Harbor, Kaydee and James trace the complex and haunting aftermath of Laura Law’s murder—a case that refused to fade quietly into history. From failed federal investigations and unsealed tax court revelations, to political conspiracies and Cold War hysteria, this episode dives deep into how Laura’s death became a pawn in local and national power struggles.

Listeners will hear how key figures like County Commissioner Richard Ultican and union leader Dick Law became entangled in allegations of corruption, cover-ups, and Communist paranoia. We follow the trail through a federal grand jury, a tax evasion conviction, and bizarre testimony by professional anti-Communist Paul Crouch—all of which only muddy the waters further.

Ultimately, we explore the enduring mystery and legacy of Laura Law’s tragic death, the weight it left on her family, and how political narratives tried to reshape her story for decades. It's a powerful, thought-provoking close to one of Grays Harbor’s most unsettling and politically charged murder cases.

Sources:

Jennifer Ott's "Laura Law is found murdered in her Aberdeen home on January 5, 1940", https://www.historylink.org/File/9260.

Robert Saltvig's "The Tragic Legend of Laura Law", https://www.jstor.org/stable/40490240

Washington State's Archives' File on the case of Laura Law's murder, https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-75th-anniversary-law-murder-case

Matthew N. Wells's "Billy's Back: Walk of the Undead", https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/downtown-aberdeen-association-seeking-input-tuesday-for-spooky-october-tour/

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Laura Law murder case, we return to Grays Harbor to unravel the explosive political fallout that followed Laura’s tragic death. What began as a brutal homicide quickly transformed into a fierce ideological battle—one that exposed deep divisions between labor unions and local power structures.

This episode traces the efforts of the Grays Harbor Civil Rights Committee to defend Laura’s husband, Dick Law, as they allege corruption, conspiracy, and cover-ups tied to powerful business interests. We explore the national attention the case drew, the push for Department of Justice involvement, the role of the media, and the growing paranoia around communism. As lines blur between legal inquiry and political war, we ask: Was Laura’s murder ever just about Laura?

🎧 Tune in as we dig through historical archives, fiery courtroom drama, and the voices of resistance to reveal the murky undercurrents beneath one of Washington’s most politically charged murder cases.

#OnlyMurdersOnTheHarbor #TrueCrimePodcast #LauraLaw #GraysHarbor #UnsolvedMystery #LaborHistory #CivilRights #UnionStrong #MurderMystery #HistoricalTrueCrime #PodcastEpisode #NowPlaying

Sources:

Jennifer Ott's "Laura Law is found murdered in her Aberdeen home on January 5, 1940", https://www.historylink.org/File/9260.

Robert Saltvig's "The Tragic Legend of Laura Law", https://www.jstor.org/stable/40490240

Washington State's Archives' File on the case of Laura Law's murder, https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-75th-anniversary-law-murder-case

Matthew N. Wells's "Billy's Back: Walk of the Undead", https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/downtown-aberdeen-association-seeking-input-tuesday-for-spooky-october-tour/

Season 1, Episode 1 of Only Murders on the Harbor sets the stage with an eerie, atmospheric tone, highlighting the fog-shrouded coastal town of Grays Harbor County, Washington. Hosted by Kaydee and her fiancé James, the podcast introduces the murder of Laura Law against a backdrop of labor unrest, political divisions, and anti-communist sentiment in 1930s Aberdeen. The episode explores Laura’s background as a Finnish immigrant and her role as a key organizer in the union movement alongside her husband, Dick Law—a prominent, controversial figure accused of communist affiliations. Tensions escalate with historical events like the Red Hall raid, clashes between rival unions, and mounting hostility from local businesses and conservative groups. The episode culminates in the brutal, unsolved murder of Laura Law, intertwining personal tragedy with larger political conflicts, leaving listeners questioning who was responsible and why.

Sources:

Jennifer Ott's "Laura Law is found murdered in her Aberdeen home on January 5, 1940", https://www.historylink.org/File/9260.

Robert Saltvig's "The Tragic Legend of Laura Law", https://www.jstor.org/stable/40490240

Washington State's Archives' File on the case of Laura Law's murder, https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-75th-anniversary-law-murder-case

Matthew N. Wells's "Billy's Back: Walk of the Undead", https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/downtown-aberdeen-association-seeking-input-tuesday-for-spooky-october-tour/