True Crime Bullsh** (Studio BOTH/AND)

S7 Prep: WA Does (Ad-free & Early)

Release Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Josh Hallmark
Theme: Investigating the unidentified victims ("Does") in Washington State potentially linked to serial killer Israel Keyes

Episode Overview

In this S7 prep episode, host Josh Hallmark delves into the grim aftermath of Israel Keyes’s crimes: the many missing persons and unidentified remains, particularly focusing on "Does" (unidentified decedents) in Washington State. Assisted by researchers Kaz and French, Josh explores how these cases were selected, analyzed, and mapped in detail to identify potential victims of Keyes. The episode balances methodical investigation with poignant reflections on the cumulative toll of unresolved disappearances, the limits of law enforcement resources, and the haunting uncertainty for surviving families.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Reality of Unidentified Victims

• Josh Hallmark begins by framing the tragedy of unidentified victims:
  • Quote: “Perhaps the most compelling and significant aspect of the Israel Keyes case for me is that of the many victims who at this point are missing persons or both missing persons and John or Jane Does... It's a mystery of the most heartbreaking kind.” (00:35)
• Josh draws attention to the magnitude of the problem:
  • NAMUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) lists 78 unidentified bodies in Washington State alone since 2000.
  • Many of these may be linked to Keyes, but this is only a partial account.

2. Research Methodology: Narrowing Down the “Does”

• Kaz, a prosecutor and board member for Private Investigations for the Missing, details her approach:
  • Criteria: Searched NAMUS for John and Jane Does in WA, 1997–present, returning 93 cases. Further narrowed by scrutinizing location (rural/remote, not urban), victim type (excluding small children, etc.), and condition of remains (skeletal, partially decomposed, etc.).
  • Cross-referenced cases with Google Maps, property history, and news/web records to deduce context and timeline.
  • Quote (Kaz): “For a lot of them, there wasn't a lot of information at all... Sometimes I would get to the web sleuths page or... some news reports, especially for remains found closer in time to us.” (04:53)

Challenges Highlighted:

• Inaccurate or imprecise location data in NAMUS entries.
• Changing landscapes and property use over time obscure original context.
• Many remains are discovered incidentally during construction or renovations years later.

3. The Power of Mapping: Visualizing Keyes’s Movements and Victim Locations

• French (second researcher) discusses their skepticism before reviewing the cases but explains how mapping the locations against Keyes's known activities yielded telling patterns.
  • Example: Keyes’s own admissions about body disposal vary from his “mythology”; he sometimes left bodies in shallow graves or abandoned structures (contradicting an ‘expert’ myth).
  • Used Google Earth archival data to reconstruct property status over time.

Two Case Studies: Lake Tapps Jane Doe & Elwha Reservoir

A. Lake Tapps Jane Doe

• Details of Discovery:
  • Remains discovered August 28, 2019, as a construction crew cleared an abandoned trailer property in Lake Tapps, WA.
  • Skeletal remains (female, 18–50 years old) found in a recycling bin, overgrown with brambles.
  • Keyes was frequently traveling through this area, with cell tower pings and financial records placing him nearby, especially between 2004–2006.
• Timeline Construction:
  • Property abandoned and listed “for sale” from late 2003 to 2006, matching a period of Keyes's known activity.
  • French used Google Earth to show the abandonment and overgrowth timeline, tying it to when the body could have been placed. (14:37–17:38)
    • Quote (French, about the Google Street View): “By 2009, this is an abandoned property... If we go up to 2012, you can see those brambles are thick. You lived in the Northwest, you're not going to go through those brambles very easily at all.” (14:37)
• Similarities to Known Keyes Methods:
  • Property’s isolation and abandonment are consistent with Keyes’s habits.
  • Keyes has discussed breaking into and staying in trailers and using real estate listings or visible “For Sale” signs to seek targets.
• Outstanding Frustration:
  • Despite strong circumstantial links, DNA comparisons between the Jane Doe and relevant missing persons (including Giovanna Tyler) have not been made.
  • Quote (Kaz): “Just to clarify... the Lake Tapps Jane Doe, there's been no comparisons that have been put into this.” (25:33)

B. Elwha Reservoir Doe

• Discovery: In May 2012, a dog found a human leg bone on the Lower Elwha Clallam Reservation near Port Angeles, WA, after a reservoir was drained. Little can be established about the victim (age, sex, time of death unclear).
• Potential Keyes Link:
  • Keyes worked in the area in the early-mid 2000s.
  • Location fits with other Keyes activity and known patterns of body disposal.
  • French notes: “This is right at the intersection where he was harassing Molly while she was driving. Elwha comes up a lot.” (33:10–33:30)
• Frustration with Slow Progress:
  • Only one DNA analysis (ruling out a previous missing person) has been reported.
  • Law enforcement’s limited resources and focus means many such cases remain unresolved, despite clear investigative avenues.

Systemic Problems & Emotional Impact

• Insufficient Testing & Resource Allocation

  • Many remains have not been matched to missing persons, sometimes with glaring missed opportunities.
  • Cases often prioritized low if not “actively” sought after or if DNA extraction is costly—an ongoing source of frustration.
  • Quote (Josh): “That's the hardest part about looking into these many, many unidentified bodies... Local law enforcement and even the FBI don't seem to have the resources, time or bandwidth to do simple comparison testing.” (26:32)

• Commentary on Grief & Closure

  • Josh reflects on the psychological torment of families of missing persons, the endless cycling through stages of grief, and the cruel paradox that closure (finding remains) may also mean the extinguishing of hope.
  • Quote: “When you experience loss, people say you'll move through the five stages of grief... What they don’t tell you is that you'll cycle through them all every day.” (38:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “NAMUS is by no means a complete catalogue of loss. It’s merely an unfinished chapter in a book full of unfinished chapters that never seems to end.” — Josh Hallmark (01:44)
• “You lived in the Northwest, you're not going to go through those brambles very easily at all. Very thorny, difficult to get into... almost completely overtaken the trailer.” — French (15:13–15:35)
• “It would have been just a really great place for Keyes to do his thing, unfortunately.” — French, on the Lake Tapps property (23:50)
• “Why would Keyes or anyone... drive a kidnapping victim or even a body over 100 miles through remote forest, farmland or high desert into a population dense neighborhood? It makes no sense and it’s high risk with even higher effort.” — Josh Hallmark (28:42)

Important Timestamps

• 00:09–03:22: Setting the emotional framework; introduction of Kaz and the research project.
• 03:22–08:43: Kaz details her methodological approach to identifying relevant Doe cases.
• 08:43–12:47: French’s mapping process; challenging “Keyes mythology.”
• 12:47–20:09: Deep dive into Lake Tapps Jane Doe case.
• 20:09–26:32: Real estate history, direct links to Keyes, and frustration with lack of DNA comparisons.
• 26:32–31:37: Process of cross-matching Does to missing persons, and narrowing of likely candidates.
• 31:37–38:57: Introduction and discussion of the Elwha Reservoir Doe and broader patterns in the data.
• 38:57–End: Reflection on loss, identity, closure, and systemic issues.

Conclusion & Preview

The episode ends with a poignant meditation on the liminal state of “Does” and the urgency of naming, connecting, and honoring lost lives. Josh promises a forthcoming episode highlighting more Doe cases and reminding listeners that some answers are within reach—if only enough attention and resources are granted by those who could provide closure.

For Listeners:
This episode is essential listening for those interested in unsolved cases, the investigative process behind connecting unidentified remains to known victims, and the human cost of unresolved disappearances. It rigorously details the investigative methods, system-level obstacles, and emotional stakes, ensuring that the victims—named or not—are not forgotten.