Stolen Voices of Dole Valley: Episode 8 – The Forgotten Serial Killer

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Carolyn Osorio
Podcast Network: Lemonada Media, Pie in the Sky Media, KSL Podcasts

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the decades-long fight for justice and acknowledgment for the victims and survivors of Warren Forrest—“the forgotten serial killer” of the Pacific Northwest. Once a handsome stranger who stalked young hitchhiking women in the 1970s, Forrest’s crimes faded into obscurity after his conviction for a single murder, leaving an untold number of cases unresolved and families desperate for closure. The episode centers on Norma Jean Countryman, survivor and witness, and her daughter, Kimber, as they confront generational trauma and drive the search for answers. Their stories are interwoven with hard-fought victories in cold case investigations, culminating in the long-overdue identification of a Jane Doe and new murder charges against Forrest.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Warren Forrest: The Forgotten Serial Killer

• Forrest was suspected in numerous disappearances and murders of young women in the 1970s but was only convicted of one killing (Christa Blake) in 1979. For decades, the other cases stagnated in cold case files.
• “At some point, I dubbed Warren Forrest the forgotten serial killer, because that’s what he is.” – Kimber (01:04)
• For a long time, authorities saw no reason to revisit the cases, since Forrest was already in prison. There was, however, persistent fear he could potentially be released.
• Survivors and family members, like Norma Jean and her daughter Kimber, refused to let the story fade.

2. Lasting Trauma and Its Generational Impact

• Norma Jean describes the lifelong psychological effects of surviving Forrest’s attack—including not being believed at age 15 and feeling abandoned by the authorities.

  “If he had done his job, those three women would be alive and whole today.” – Norma Jean Countryman (02:11)

• Absence of therapy compounded Norma’s trauma, which in turn affected her parenting—her daughter Kimber grew up under severe protection and anxiety.

  “She always had to know where I was.” – Kimber, on her mother's protectiveness (05:14)

• Both mother and daughter revealed their own parallel experiences with sexual violence, and the difficulty of disclosing the truth, fearing disbelief and retraumatization.

  “I knew the police wouldn’t believe me… I couldn’t go through what my mom went through.” – Kimber (09:27) “She immediately told me, ‘I failed you. I tried so hard to protect you, and I failed you.’” – Kimber, about Norma’s reaction to her disclosure (11:41)

3. Breaking the Silence and Pursuing Justice

• Kimber took it upon herself to get answers—contacting authorities, researching old records, and ultimately writing to Warren Forrest.

  “I just started digging.” – Kimber (13:07)

• Forrest shocked Kimber by allowing his therapist to speak with her, granting access to his “sexual offender timeline”—a document listing his deviant acts.

  “My mouth was just hanging open. I was in shock. Because he talked about thirteen victims.” – Kimber (18:47)

• Kimber immediately shared the timeline with cold case detective Lindsay Arnold, which became pivotal evidence at Forrest’s 2014 parole hearing.

  “She walked into the parole board and said, ‘This has come into our possession… and he talks about victims that we don’t know about yet.’” – Kimber (22:29)

• Forrest’s parole was denied, but the reality of his unknown number of victims haunted survivors and families.

4. Family Advocacy and the Importance of Closure

• For families of the missing, like Michael Morrison (brother of Martha Morrison), the lack of answers was agonizing.

  “We as humans die two deaths. The first one is when our body fails. The second is when the last person speaks my name.” – Michael Morrison (35:28)

• Michael submitted DNA to national databases, eventually helping the identification of his sister’s remains—the Dole Valley Jane Doe—decades after her disappearance.

  “It was something like 59 million times more likely to be Martha than any other Caucasian female.” – Norma Jean Countryman (43:37)

• The painstaking linkage of Martha’s blood to Forrest’s dart gun provided the physical evidence needed for a new murder charge.

5. New Charges and the Fight for Accountability

• The cold case unit, using DNA and testimony from Norma and other survivors, reopened the investigation, leading to a 2020 trial and conviction of Warren Forrest for Martha Morrison’s murder (in addition to Christa Blake).

  “The opening statement of the prosecutor: ‘The defendant murdered Martha Morrison. He followed a very specific plan…’” (54:10)

• Survivors faced him again in court, powerfully testifying about their ordeals.

  “I am basically suspended between two trees…” – Norma recounting the attack (56:25)

• Forrest’s own parole hearing confessions were used as evidence, and the jury was visibly shaken by his emotionless descriptions.

  “There was a struggle. During the struggle, I choked the victim to death.” – Warren Forrest, describing Christa’s murder (59:57)

• Despite the hard-won conviction, many cases remain unresolved, underscoring survivors’ continued efforts and calls for closure.

  “Even though we, we know that he did these things, without having the judicial system say, ‘Yes, he did these,’ and he’s going to pay for them…having them say, ‘Yes, he did these things and acknowledge it,’ is closure.” – Norma Jean Countryman (34:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On being disbelieved by police:

“If he had done his job, those three women would be alive and whole today.” – Norma Jean Countryman (02:11)

On intergenerational trauma:

“For the entire year that my daughter was 15, she was allowed to go to school and come home.” – Kimber (11:16)

On reviewing Forrest’s timeline:

“My mouth was just hanging open. I was in shock.” – Kimber (18:47)

On the value of closure:

“We as humans die two deaths. The first one is when our body fails. The second is when the last person speaks my name.” – Michael Morrison (35:28)

Forrest’s chilling parole statement:

“Pretty much so, sir.” – Warren Forrest, admitting to utter detachment from his victims’ humanity (27:00)

The moment Martha’s DNA matched:

“The blood on that weapon was Martha Morrison's. I’m getting goosebumps right now just even saying that to you.” – Norma Jean Countryman (49:59)

On confronting Forrest in court:

“With Norma Jean and our Lachamas victim testifying... absolutely not even a tweak of emotion the whole time. It was pretty amazing.” – Retired detective Doug Maas (58:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:21–03:47: Backstory on Warren Forrest, forgotten victims, Norma and her fight for recognition.
• 04:49–08:01: Kimber recounts growing up with her mother’s silent trauma; discovering Forrest’s serial crimes via social media.
• 09:04–11:48: Generational trauma—Kimber’s own assault and reluctance to disclose.
• 13:07–17:14: Kimber’s investigation, contact with Forrest’s therapist, and the breakthrough of the sexual offender timeline.
• 18:39–22:29: The timeline’s evidence and its pivotal role at the parole hearing.
• 25:21–29:02: Forrest describes victim selection and violent acts at the 2014 parole hearing.
• 35:28–44:28: Michael Morrison’s promise to find his sister; the eventual DNA match to Dole Valley Jane Doe (Martha Morrison).
• 46:18–50:45: Rediscovering forensic evidence—dart gun, blood, and the Martha Morrison match.
• 53:35–62:32: The 2020 trial: survivor testimony, forensic evidence, and the emotional reactions of jury and survivors.
• 62:37–64:33: Verdict, aftermath, unresolved cases, and determination to keep the fight alive.

Final Thoughts

Tone & Takeaway:
The episode underlines the tenacity, resilience, and pain of survivors and families who refuse to let victims become statistics or “stolen voices.” It avoids sensationalism, focusing on the toll of trauma, the failings and progress of the justice system, and the slow, painstaking work required for even partial closure.

A central theme emerges: Both in investigations and in living with trauma, silence is the enemy. Justice, recognition, and healing depend on advocacy, persistence, and the courage to revisit old wounds—often with no guarantee of resolution, but with the ever-present hope for acknowledgment.

Next Episode Teaser:
The fight continues as new DNA evidence surfaces and famed forensic investigator Paul Holes joins the case, raising hopes that more stolen voices may finally be heard.