"We've brought Lindsey home," Grays Harbor County Sheriff Rick Scott stated during a press conference on Thursday, May 10. "Sadly, she was not recovered as we and her family had hoped." Multiple-state and federal agencies from Washington, Idaho, and Montana are now searching the area where she was found hoping to find clues as to what happened. Her disappearance is being investigated as kidnapping and homicide.
Lindsey went missing from McCleary in 2009 after she left a friends house and was last known to be walking a few blocks to her home. That was the last time she was seen or heard from until her remains were found. Two hunters in Eastern Washington found human remains while hunting in September 2017, but because there was no crime associated with them at the time they weren't immediately sent to be tested for DNA by the FBI. "It was only a few weeks ago we learned that the remains were Lindsey," Sheriff Scott stated. "DNA taken from the remains and her family showed a match."
Crews are searching an area near Ellensburg in Kittitas County according to sources at KOMO News where the hunters found the remains. They're combing the area looking for any clues or evidence that may lead them to a suspect. Sheriff Scott mentioned during the news conference that they believe they will be able to find some sort of evidence to help unravel Lindsey's disappearance, but declined to provide any information as to where her remains were found only referring to the area as "remote."
In a show of united support Sheriffs from five-counties joined Sheriff Scott at the podium during the media conferences as he delivered the news. For Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson the news was devastating. "We all held out hope that she would be found alive," he stated to the Herald. "There's been many instances recently where someone had been feared lost, but was found held captive after many years. Not that that's any better...I just wish we could have found her alive."
Lindsey went missing prior to Sheriff Johnson's tenure as Pacific County Sheriff, but the department has been willing at any moment to assist their colleagues to the north. "We've shared information with them over the years as we've been given tips," he stated. "Even just a few weeks ago we shared some information we obtained, but they had already had it too."
The investigation into Lindsey Baum's kidnapping and disappearance is on-going and authorities look to bring the suspect Sheriff Scott has described as a "monster" to justice. "It's the last news we wanted to hear," Sheriff Johnson stated. "Now the person responsible needs to be caught."