Thurston County Sheriff's Office Creates Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit

By Emily Fitzgerald /For The Nisqually Valley News

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office has launched a two-person unit dedicated to cold cases and missing persons, the agency announced recently.

“We are extremely excited about the creation of this unit, which aims to bring closure to loved ones impacted by these cases and provide justice for the victims,” the sheriff’s office said in a June 6 social media post.

The unit is comprised of volunteer Special Deputy Jim Lindsay, a retired law enforcement officer with experience investigating fraud and cold cases, and Detective George Oplinger, who works with the sheriff's office for 24 years and has seven years of detective experience. .

“Detective Oplinger has been recognized numerous times throughout his career for his exceptional investigative skills and compassion for victims,” the sheriff’s office said in a June 6 social media post.

This specialized unit is made possible by the public safety tax recently passed by voters, which will allow the Sheriff's Office to fill 27 new deputy positions over the next 18 months, according to the Sheriff's Office.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) had recorded 30 active missing persons cases in Thurston County. The oldest active case on record was in 1963, with the most recent case occurring in March 2023.

Additionally, eight sets of human remains were discovered in Thurston County between 1981 and 2018 that remain unidentified, according to NamUs.

Project Cold Case, a nonprofit database of unsolved homicides across the United States, has recorded two unsolved murder cases in Thurston County.

For more information on active missing persons and unidentified persons cases, visit

For more information on unsolved murder cases, visit

For more information or to submit tips to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit, contact the Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500.

Unsolved missing and murdered cases in Thurston County

• Stephen Barton, last seen in Rochester on March 9, 2023, at the age of 54.

• Whitney Wilken, last seen in Lacey on October 24, 2019, aged 31.

• Susan Lundy, last seen in Olympia on June 30, 2019, aged 58.

• Matthew Anfeldt, last seen in Rochester on February 28, 2019, at the age of 20.

• Jennifer Pagel, last seen at Olympia on December 29, 2017, at the age of 28.

• Christine Wagner, last seen in Olympia on October 10, 2016, at the age of 67.

• Gail Doyle, last seen in Olympia on June 2, 2016, aged 60.

• Logan Schiendelman, last seen in Tumwater on May 19, 2016, at the age of 19.

• Danielle Griffith, last seen in Tumwater in August 2014, aged 17. In February 2020, a set of remains found in Tumwater on May 17, 2019 were identified as his.

• Steven Billman, last seen in Rochester on January 10, 2014, at the age of 26.

• Willard Bennett, last seen in Olympia on November 12, 2013, at the age of 73.

• Ryan Mayer, last seen in Olympia on November 10, 2013, at the age of 33.

• Shantina Smiley, last seen in Olympia on March 13, 2010, at the age of 29.

• Nancy Moyer, last seen in Tenino on March 6, 2009, at the age of 36.

• Christopher Walston, last seen in Olympia on June 29, 2007, at the age of 35.

• Gilbert Gilman, last seen at Hoodsport on June 24, 2006, at the age of 47.

• Karen Bodine, murdered by strangulation at the age of 37. Her body was found on Sargent Road Southwest in Rochester on January 22, 2007.

• Jared Gigena, last seen in Rainier on September 5, 2002, at the age of 20.

• Jonathan Corey, last seen at Olympia on February 1, 2002, at the age of 20.

• Michelle Dickerman, last seen in Lacey on April 28, 2001, aged 41.

• Spencer Jolley, last seen in Lacey on May 12, 2000, aged 25.

• Craig Moilanen, last seen in Olympia on January 6, 1999, at the age of 46.

• Bruce DeVoe, last seen in Tenino on November 4, 1997, at the age of 40.

• James Henson, last seen at Olympia on February 23, 1995, at the age of 56.

• Delight Watson, last seen in Lacey on May 12, 1993, aged 40.

• Consuelo Vannausdle, last seen in Lacey on May 1, 1993, aged 31.

• Allan Hill, last seen in Yelm on September 18, 1987, aged 30.

• Karan Brown, last seen in Olympia on January 1, 1980, at the age of 26.

• Russell Ashmun, last seen in Olympia on September 22, 1979, at the age of 22.

• David Boniske, last seen in Olympia on July 23, 1977, at the age of 21.

• Donna Manson, last seen in Olympia on March 12, 1974, at the age of 19.

• Patricia K. Garrison, found stabbed in the hospital parking lot on January 5, 1970 in Olympia. She died from her injuries two days later, aged 17.

• Christopher Bridgeman Jr., last seen on January 1, 1963, at age 33.

Unidentified remains

Eight sets of unidentified remains were discovered in Thurston County between 1981 and 2018, according to NamUS. Of those eight, three were found in Olympia, one in rural Thurston County and one – an Asian man estimated to be between 20 and 50 years old – was found in Yelm.

•••

Editor's note: If a loved one is missing from this list and you would like their name added, please email [email protected].