LINDSEY BAUM: 10-year-old abducted and murdered in McCleary, WA - June 2009 / Remains found 2017

After a decade, knowing didn’t bring relief

Melissa Baum wears a silver necklace holding a small silver pendant with a ruby. Contained within the pendant are half the remains of her daughter, Lindsey.

It’s been 10 years since Lindsey disappeared during a 10-minute walk to her home in McCleary on a hot summer evening June 26, 2009. It’s been a little more than a year since Melissa Baum was told her daughter’s partial remains had been found hundreds of miles away in the middle of the state and she knew for sure her daughter had been murdered.

During the decade that followed her daughter’s disappearance, Melissa has seen her daughter’s friends grow up, graduate from high school, go to college, marry, have children of their own. Melissa has only the memories of the talkative, intelligent, strong-willed girl, frozen in time at the age of 10.

“I’m finally to a point where I’m able to reminisce about her,” said Baum. “I have lots of memories that I’m grateful for.” For example, “She had so much energy. She talked constantly, a mile a minute.”


Closure?

Melissa got a call in early May 2018 from Grays Harbor County Sheriff Rick Scott. He needed to see her, and right away.

“It felt a little odd, he sounded urgent, I didn’t understand,” she said, saying it normally took months to set up a meeting with investigators, and it had been more than eight years without much news to be shared.

The next day Scott and an FBI victim’s advocate showed up at her door.

“I knew there was more to it,” said Melissa, when she saw the raw emotion on Scott’s face. DNA testing from the FBI confirmed a portion of Lindsey’s remains had been found more than six months earlier in Eastern Washington.

“Over the years, when I heard of children’s remains being recovered, I remember feeling twinges of jealousy,” said Melissa. “I felt knowing would bring some relief. It’s been the exact opposite.” Anger, rage and frustration were the result for her.

Days later, at a press conference in McCleary, she spoke to the press and the community about the discovery of her daughter’s remains. She admits it is still difficult for her to visit the town; she moved some time after Lindsey’s disappearance but returned, not to McCleary, but to the area. She continues to grant interviews like this one and make television appearances. As difficult as they are for her, she knows there’s always a chance the right person will see them.

“It’s not over because she’s been found, not even close,” said Baum.

After a decade, knowing didn’t bring relief | The Daily World

Melissa Baum wears a silver necklace holding a small silver pendant with a ruby. Contained within the pendant are half the remains of her daughter, Lindsey.

www.thedailyworld.com

Who killed LINDSEY BAUM and why haven't they been brought to justice? There is now a $40,000 reward for info! McCleary, #WASHINGTON June 26, 2009

On June 26, 2009, 10 year old Lindsey Baum was walking home from her friend’s house around 9:15 pm. She never made it home. Her remains were found 8 years later, miles from where she went missing!

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

11 years ago tonight, Lindsey was abducted on her short walk home.



Almost 3 years ago, Lindsey was found here:



JUSTICE FOR LINDSEY. Earn that $35,000 reward and turn this scum in!
Rose Winquist P.I. - (206) 229-5055 - Rose@winquistinvestigations.com

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

New flyer.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of murdered 10-year-old Lindsey Baum calls for another search for evidence

The mother of Lindsey Baum is calling for more searches of the wooded area of Kittitas County where hunters found a small piece of her 10-year-old daughter’s skull. The fragment was discovered in 2017 more than 100 miles away from where the 10-year-old was kidnapped in 2009 from her hometown of...

www.q13fox.com

Mother of murdered 10-year-old Lindsey Baum calls for another search for evidence

The mother of Lindsey Baum is calling for more searches of the wooded area of Kittitas County where hunters found a small piece of her 10-year-old daughter’s skull. The fragment was discovered in 2017 more than 100 miles away from where the 10-year-old was kidnapped in 2009 from her hometown of McCleary.

“I want to see something being done. I want to know progress is being made. I want to know who murdered my 10-year-old little girl you know I had a 10-year-old little girl about to have her 11th birthday, and she walked out my door one evening and she never came home.”

Every year, Lindsey Baum’s birthday is a haunting reminder of a 10-year-old frozen in time, filled with excitement for the 11th birthday she never got to have. But this year was a particularly painful milestone for her mother, Melissa. “She’s been gone longer than she lived.”

It’s now been 11 years since Lindsey was taken and murdered.

“It gets harder to celebrate (her birthday) because how do you celebrate your murdered daughter’s birthday? I don’t have a grave to visit to go put flowers on. I don’t know how to celebrate that. It’s such a deep pain that if you haven’t lived through it you can't possibly imagine the agony.”

Melissa Baum’s constant fight for answers has only grown more difficult and painful in time. “It’s not a natural mourning process, it’s not something you just mourn and get over because it’s not over. It’s not done. There’s so much left to do.”

The only major break in Lindsey’s case came in 2017 when a fragment of her skull was found by hunters in a remote area of Kittitas County. The following year, the FBI notified the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office that the DNA was a match to Lindsey.

“We need answers. It’s destroyed my entire family. They stole an entire life from us. They stole my daughter. They stole my future.”

Baum can’t bear the thought that no one’s searched the area since 2018. She believes a new search could find the clues to help catch her daughter’s killer.

“Monsters don’t just do this once and stop-especially when they get away with it for so long. So I’m not only tormented constantly, daily, nightly, by all the horrific things that may have happened to my 10-year-old child, but what are they doing to other children? And getting away with?”

Baum says she won’t give up no matter what and still holds onto hope that she may one day get justice for her little girl.

“She was a real person, she existed, and she deserves to rest in peace.”

The FBI, and the Kittitas County and Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office say Lindsey’s case is still very active, but they tell us they will not search the area where her skull was found unless new evidence is found. They say the search that was done in 2018 was incredibly extensive. Melissa Baum agrees that crews scoured the area, but still feels strongly that another search could finally give her the answers she desperately needs.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Mother of murdered 10-year-old Lindsey Baum calls for another search for evidence

The mother of Lindsey Baum is calling for more searches of the wooded area of Kittitas County where hunters found a small piece of her 10-year-old daughter’s skull. The fragment was discovered in 2017 more than 100 miles away from where the 10-year-old was kidnapped in 2009 from her hometown of...

www.q13fox.com

Mother of murdered 10-year-old Lindsey Baum calls for another search for evidence

The mother of Lindsey Baum is calling for more searches of the wooded area of Kittitas County where hunters found a small piece of her 10-year-old daughter’s skull. The fragment was discovered in 2017 more than 100 miles away from where the 10-year-old was kidnapped in 2009 from her hometown of McCleary.

“I want to see something being done. I want to know progress is being made. I want to know who murdered my 10-year-old little girl you know I had a 10-year-old little girl about to have her 11th birthday, and she walked out my door one evening and she never came home.”

Every year, Lindsey Baum’s birthday is a haunting reminder of a 10-year-old frozen in time, filled with excitement for the 11th birthday she never got to have. But this year was a particularly painful milestone for her mother, Melissa. “She’s been gone longer than she lived.”

It’s now been 11 years since Lindsey was taken and murdered.

“It gets harder to celebrate (her birthday) because how do you celebrate your murdered daughter’s birthday? I don’t have a grave to visit to go put flowers on. I don’t know how to celebrate that. It’s such a deep pain that if you haven’t lived through it you can't possibly imagine the agony.”

Melissa Baum’s constant fight for answers has only grown more difficult and painful in time. “It’s not a natural mourning process, it’s not something you just mourn and get over because it’s not over. It’s not done. There’s so much left to do.”

The only major break in Lindsey’s case came in 2017 when a fragment of her skull was found by hunters in a remote area of Kittitas County. The following year, the FBI notified the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office that the DNA was a match to Lindsey.

“We need answers. It’s destroyed my entire family. They stole an entire life from us. They stole my daughter. They stole my future.”

Baum can’t bear the thought that no one’s searched the area since 2018. She believes a new search could find the clues to help catch her daughter’s killer.

“Monsters don’t just do this once and stop-especially when they get away with it for so long. So I’m not only tormented constantly, daily, nightly, by all the horrific things that may have happened to my 10-year-old child, but what are they doing to other children? And getting away with?”

Baum says she won’t give up no matter what and still holds onto hope that she may one day get justice for her little girl.

“She was a real person, she existed, and she deserves to rest in peace.”

The FBI, and the Kittitas County and Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office say Lindsey’s case is still very active, but they tell us they will not search the area where her skull was found unless new evidence is found. They say the search that was done in 2018 was incredibly extensive. Melissa Baum agrees that crews scoured the area, but still feels strongly that another search could finally give her the answers she desperately needs.

What is it the agencies need?? Money?? To do one more search?

I know this is close to home for some of you or hits close to home as said earlier here, that you are very familiar with this case. I can identify with though this mom needs justice and she needs her baby home or buried... That selfish perp does not only take the child, horrible enough, they take the entire future and a line from the entire family. Not just the child's childhood, future, graduation, marriage, but the future grandchildren, everything... The immediate horrible loss is caused and that is the most horrid and then ramifications from that point on...

She has neither justice NOR her daughter to bury and bring home. Unimaginable.

I don't have words, I don't know, I just feel for her and say get off their darned butts and go search again...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

It sounds like they just don't want to. They feel like the first search they did was thorough enough and they found everything they're going to find. Which isn't much at all. I'm sure they did their absolute best and were very thorough, but we all know how difficult it is to search in the woods. Things are missed. ALL the time.

The necklace/pendant her mom is wearing in this picture is all she has of her daughter. That has half of the cremains of everything they found.



Here's pictures of part of the search. I mean, they WERE very thorough. They were sifting dirt, even. But her remains could have easily been scattered by animals outside of the boundaries of the search.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It sounds like they just don't want to. They feel like the first search they did was thorough enough and they found everything they're going to find. Which isn't much at all. I'm sure they did their absolute best and were very thorough, but we all know how difficult it is to search in the woods. Things are missed. ALL the time.

The necklace/pendant her mom is wearing in this picture is all she has of her daughter. That has half of the cremains of everything they found.

View attachment 5546

Here's pictures of part of the search. I mean, they WERE very thorough. They were sifting dirt, even. But her remains could have easily been scattered by animals outside of the boundaries of the search.

View attachment 5547 View attachment 5548

I don't doubt they were and another huge search I get the cost and unlikely outcome of success but I also feel for her... And then there are mother's instincts sometimes... But I am probably reaching with that thought... Maybe just some volunteers, volunteer search teams with dogs, etc. would give her some peace... And who knows, weather and nature and time sometimes can unearth things too. I don't know... Just sad for her.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I don't doubt they were and another huge search I get the cost and unlikely outcome of success but I also feel for her... And then there are mother's instincts sometimes... But I am probably reaching with that thought... Maybe just some volunteers, volunteer search teams with dogs, etc. would give her some peace... And who knows, weather and nature and time sometimes can unearth things too. I don't know... Just sad for her.

Definitely agree. If that was my child I'd want more too. Searches back when Lindsey disappeared were so huge with so many volunteers. I do wonder if we couldn't get a group together to go over there and search.

I do think an arrest / charges in this case would help give her some peace as well. Early on, there was always hope that when her remains were found, an arrest would follow. But when it's nearly 10 years later, evidence is gone.

Just holding onto hope.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Definitely agree. If that was my child I'd want more too. Searches back when Lindsey disappeared were so huge with so many volunteers. I do wonder if we couldn't get a group together to go over there and search.

I do think an arrest / charges in this case would help give her some peace as well. Early on, there was always hope that when her remains were found, an arrest would follow. But when it's nearly 10 years later, evidence is gone.

Just holding onto hope.

I don't know the history other than the couple of pages here where I asked some questions. I never followed it previous or elsewhere. Her picture gets me though, all of the time. It sounds like a case where maybe some feel they know who did this? Or no?

Don't know her or the case as well as the rest of you, but feel for her. No justice, no answers, no recovery.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

It sounds like a case where maybe some feel they know who did this? Or no?

Absolutely. We talked about suspects a bit earlier. I think the investigators probably have a really good idea who is responsible. But maybe they don't have that one piece of evidence to nail him and can't prove it. But IMO, they know. And I think most people in the community have a suspect in mind who they think is responsible as well.

I would be absolutely flabbergasted if it wasn't one of the two guys mentioned before. The police may be on a different track entirely, or they may have it narrowed down to one. I just don't know. It's been years and years since they made any of their investigation public.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Absolutely. We talked about suspects a bit earlier. I think the investigators probably have a really good idea who is responsible. But maybe they don't have that one piece of evidence to nail him and can't prove it. But IMO, they know. And I think most people in the community have a suspect in mind who they think is responsible as well.

I would be absolutely flabbergasted if it wasn't one of the two guys mentioned before. The police may be on a different track entirely, or they may have it narrowed down to one. I just don't know. It's been years and years since they made any of their investigation public.

Well then, at least hopefully, the community knows and watches and keeps people and kids away from him or whichever one it is.... From my questions here and the answers received, this was such a small window of time and not a major area... Maybe one day the perp will get what is coming... No one is being protected are they? There are some cases one has to wonder that with... Meaning someone connected or known... I don't know enough about this case to have an opinion.

The Abby and Libby case I go back and forth on that thought and some of it is what has been said through the couple of years... As well as a few other cases.

Usually though, it is that they just do not have enough to feel they can bring charges and succeed...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of murdered 10 year old speaks out on dispute over removed banners

www.q13fox.com

Mother of murdered 10 year old speaks out about removed banner

The mother of a murdered 10-year-old is speaking out on about a longtime dispute centered around a banner about the unsolved kidnapping and murder of Lindsey Baum.

“Lindsey Baum was kidnapped from Mccleary, Washington and she was murdered and dumped in the woods like trash three hours from home, that happened, nothing can change that,” said Linsey’s mother, Melissa Baum.

Nothing can change the horror of what happened here, but whether or not a reminder can stay up is now in dispute.

At a recent Mccleary city council meeting, the majority of council members requested a large banner about Linsey’s case be taken down, with Mayor Brenda Orffer saying it was hung up in the park without approval from the city.

In a statement, Mayor Orffer said "After hearing concerns and being asked if the banner could be removed from the park, attempts to determine who had hung it up were made but not successful. We wanted to notify whomever had placed it there of our code and request that it be removed. When we could not determine who or which organization had hung it up, a majority of council members requested at the August 12 meeting that it be taken down. The banner was removed the following day by city staff. "

“I don’t even know what there is to say because I’m having a problem understanding what the real problem is here,” said Baum.

She says a city ordinance and needing permission for the banner was never an issue until a couple of years ago, and believes that’s just a cop-out.

Back in 2018, according to city council documents, Mayor Orffer discussed requests she’d gotten from community members to have the banners taken down because they’re “offensive to some people and children.” Two former councilmembers agreed to removal because “they keep the community living in the past.”

“They talk about my banners being offensive what about my murdered little girl? Am I the only one offended by a murdered 10-year-old?” said Baum.

The banner was taken down in 2018, but this past June, on the anniversary of Lindsey’s kidnapping, it was put back up. The city removed it on August 13th, but last week, someone hung it back up, again.

While the mayor said the reason for removal was due to a city ordinance, she tells us people have expressed concerns about the banner, stating “the memorial site is a beautiful with a butterfly bench, a photo, and a lovely tribute to Lindsey, the banner is a stark contrast.”

Melissa says she wouldn’t have been opposed to moving the banner from the park to another location but says city officials have never tried to discuss it with her.

“I'm not still in Grays Harbor because I want to be, god no, I won't be as far away from here as possible. But if I’m not here to fight for Lindsey who’s going do it? Because I sure can’t trust the city it happened in. So I’m stuck here, in hell, like an animal trapped in a cage," said Baum.

She said she wishes more than anything there was no need for the banner. But until the case is solved, she wants them up.

“She was on this earth alive less time than she’s been gone and I have no answers, I have no justice, and until I get it, I’m right here, I’m not going away, I’m not going to stop, and you’re going keep seeing her banners everywhere I can put one until the murderer or murderers are brought to justice," said Baum.

Mayor Orffer said Baum has retained legal counsel, and cannot say what will happen with the banner until city officials speak with them. She says the city continues to express its sympathy for Lindsey’s loved ones.

There’s a gofundme for more banners, which some residents are volunteering to put up in their yards. As always, if you have any information on Lindsey’s case, you're asked to contact Private Investigator Rose Winquist at (206)-229-5055, or the Grays Harbor County Sheriff (360)-249-3711. There is currently a $35,000 reward.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

McCleary community will put up more signs to find Lindsey Baum's killer after city takes some down

The mayor of McCleary said the city received multiple complaints about the signs and said that it violated a code. 10-year-old Baum was kidnapped and killed in 2009.

www.king5.com

McCleary community will put up more signs to find Lindsey Baum's killer after city takes some down

In Grays Harbor County, banners are hung throughout the city of McCleary with the hope of catching the murderer of 10-year-old Lindsey Baum, who was kidnapped and killed in 2009.

Now, there is a new controversy about whether to take them down or leave them up.

"We didn't ask for this battle, this got thrown on us," said Angela, a resident of McCleary and friend of Melissa Baum, Lindsey's mother.


"Yes, there have been concerns with regard to the 'DO YOU KNOW WHO MURDERED ME?" at the top of the banner displayed where young children go to play," Orffer wrote.

When asked who was making the complaints, Huff wrote, "I can only speak for myself and say the concerns I got were word of mouth from residents and in reference to kids thinking something bad happened at the playground/park."

Angela, who chose not to use her last name, agrees the word murder is offensive, but it's what happened to the girl and believes the signs should remain until the murderer is found.

"You can't pretty murder. I mean, you can't make murder sound good. What could we put on there to make it sound better? It's the truth,'" she said.


Currently, a GoFundMe is raising money to buy more signs so community members can place them on their property. Angela said they should begin to pop up around McCleary in the coming days.

 

[Whatsnext]

You can't deny reality. It makes me sad and furious that people want the signs to be taken down because they make them feel uncomfortable. No empathy in this world anymore. Unless its THEIR child, of course...

 

[Kimster]

What is the city council doing to help solve this horrific murder? That's what they should be brainstorming about!

 

[GrandmaBear]

I know you know this case and it is close to your hearts and you have filled me in on it. My reaction you can probably expect by now from me. City politics or whatever. And I get others' children could get fearful seeing such a sign but in the same breath, raising children in a bubble is not the wisest always either and this child was murdered. The killer still likely running around right there? If I had to bet it is more about what it makes the town look like with such a banner about murder unsolved in their town that it is about their concern for children seeing it... SOLVE the case and arrest someone. Then no need for banners...

I would rather children never have to have that fear or know such things but it happens and it happened there. I have two grandchildren who kissed their baby sister planning to see her in couple of days and never saw her again when she went to dad's. I HATE that they have that in their lives. It BITES but you don't hide things. Kids aren't stupid. You have to fill them in with what is appropriate for their age level imo anyhow.

It's a banner, put it up and leave it up. Many kids see far worse stuff online and on TV and sadly even in real life.

Just my heated opinion of course...

ETA: They did see her again. On life support when they said goodbye. Those kids are more mature than some adults in my life...

 

[Whatsnext]

I know you know this case and it is close to your hearts and you have filled me in on it. My reaction you can probably expect by now from me. City politics or whatever. And I get others' children could get fearful seeing such a sign but in the same breath, raising children in a bubble is not the wisest always either and this child was murdered. The killer still likely running around right there? If I had to bet it is more about what it makes the town look like with such a banner about murder unsolved in their town that it is about their concern for children seeing it... SOLVE the case and arrest someone. Then no need for banners...

I would rather children never have to have that fear or know such things but it happens and it happened there. I have two grandchildren who kissed their baby sister planning to see her in couple of days and never saw her again when she went to dad's. I HATE that they have that in their lives. It BITES but you don't hide things. Kids aren't stupid. You have to fill them in with what is appropriate for their age level imo anyhow.

It's a banner, put it up and leave it up. Many kids see far worse stuff online and on TV and sadly even in real life.

Just my heated opinion of course...

ETA: They did see her again. On life support when they said goodbye. Those kids are more mature than some adults in my life...

I am so sorry you and your family had and has to go through this, gbear. You are a strong woman.

 

[GrandmaBear]

You just warmed my heart, thank you so very much. I don't know if I am strong at all but it sure changes a person and one has to find a way to get through. Still not there either. That hard on me means way harder on her mom and the grandkids. It bites.

It did bring me to this stuff though and gives me a real heart for these cases, victims and families but they also break the heart don't they?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

It's a banner, put it up and leave it up. Many kids see far worse stuff online and on TV and sadly even in real life.

Exactly. Or even just from common daily life. I have a distinct memory of walking through the grocery store when I was about 10 and seeing a magazine with a picture of JonBenet Ramsey and some glaring headline about her murder. It shocked me and I remember asking my parents what happened to her. All they really said was that a bad person had hurt her.

What a perfect way to tell your children that not all people are nice. They don't need to know the details. But having your children aware that there was (and still probably is) a child killer in their town is not a bad thing. Teach your children to be safe.

SOLVE the case and arrest someone. Then no need for banners...

Love this. <3

 

[GrandmaBear]

Exactly. Or even just from common daily life. I have a distinct memory of walking through the grocery store when I was about 10 and seeing a magazine with a picture of JonBenet Ramsey and some glaring headline about her murder. It shocked me and I remember asking my parents what happened to her. All they really said was that a bad person had hurt her.

What a perfect way to tell your children that not all people are nice. They don't need to know the details. But having your children aware that there was (and still probably is) a child killer in their town is not a bad thing. Teach your children to be safe.



Love this. <3

You worded that so well-better than I can say it. Even aside from murder, when I was a child I remember a child dying in a farm accident. We knew of older teens that died hit by a train. That's not even murder. You cannot shield children from everything, I WISH we could but it does no good. They will just go to school where others are talking about it and so forth.

I was just thinking about JonBenet last night... And you are right, from the time we can read, a magazine at the check-out you name it... Kids need to be talked to because it is worse if they get their info from the tabloids etc. than their parents.

And yes, a murderer is probably loose in that town. So should parents that perhaps visit or travel there with their kids or future generations in that town know that--I think they should. I am not surprised though that the town leaders or some may not like that though... Not exactly good publicity...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Dozens of new banners and signs already up all over McCleary. Pics on Facebook.

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