“Evil Was Watching”: Dateline Reports on Michella Welch & Jennifer Bastian Homicides June 14 2025

NBC’s Dateline revisits two of the most haunting child murder cases in the Pacific Northwest in its one-hour special titled Evil Was Watching, airing Saturday, June 14 at 10 p.m. ET. Hosted by Keith Morrison, the episode focuses on the abductions and murders of Michella Welch and Jennifer “Jenni” Bastian, both taken in broad daylight from parks in Tacoma, Washington, in 1986. The cases baffled authorities and devastated the local community for over three decades.

With interviews from key figures such as former Detective Lindsey Wade and former Patrol Officer Gene Miller, the episode details how technological advances and persistent investigative work led to long-awaited breakthroughs. The story is not only about solving cold cases but also about the emotional weight carried by those who refused to give up on justice.

The Disappearances of Michella Welch and Jenni Bastian

In the spring and summer of 1986, the city of Tacoma was rocked by two horrifying crimes. On March 26, 12-year-old Michella Welch vanished while riding her bike and playing in Puget Park. That same evening, her body was discovered. She had been sexually assaulted and murdered. The brutality of the crime and its timing—midday, in a public park—shattered the city’s sense of safety.

Just five months later, on August 4, 13-year-old Jenni Bastian went missing while biking in Point Defiance Park. Her family immediately reported her disappearance. Despite an extensive search, Jenni’s body wasn’t found until three weeks later, hidden in the underbrush, her bike left nearby. Like Michella, she had been sexually assaulted and murdered. The proximity of the locations and similar victim profiles led police to believe a serial killer might be at work.

A Community Haunted and a Detective’s Calling

For Lindsey Wade, the crimes weren’t just headlines. As a Tacoma native who was 11 at the time, she vividly remembers the fear that gripped the community. Walking to school or playing outside became fraught with anxiety. Years later, Wade joined the Tacoma Police Department, motivated in part by the impact these murders had on her childhood.

Wade’s colleague, Gene Miller, was a patrol officer in 1986 and would later help establish Tacoma’s cold case unit in 2009. He and Wade teamed up to bring renewed energy to the investigation. Together, they reviewed decades of files and interviewed hundreds of people, determined to find the truth that had eluded the community for so long.

Their methodical approach included creating a list of over 2,000 men connected to the cases in any way. Wade theorized that at least one of the perpetrators had likely committed other crimes but had somehow avoided detection.

DNA Advances and a Shocking Discovery

Initial hopes rested on DNA collected from Michella Welch’s crime scene. However, it yielded no matches in the national CODIS database. For Jenni Bastian’s case, no DNA had been extracted—until 2013. At the urging of a panel of experts, investigators tested the swimsuit found on Jenni’s body. The result was a turning point: male DNA was found.

When compared to the DNA from Michella’s case, investigators were stunned to learn the two samples came from different men. For nearly 30 years, law enforcement had assumed one predator was responsible for both crimes. The discovery shattered that theory. There wasn’t one killer. There were two.

This revelation altered the course of the investigation. Over five more years, Wade and her team pushed forward with advanced forensic testing and DNA genealogy techniques. Their persistence ultimately led to the identification of two separate suspects.

The Arrests of Robert Washburn and Gary Hartman

In May 2018, police arrested Robert Washburn, a man who had once submitted his DNA voluntarily years earlier. The DNA matched the sample found on Jenni Bastian’s swimsuit. Washburn, who lived near the park where Jenni disappeared, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2019. He was sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison.

That same month, authorities arrested Gary Hartman, whose DNA matched the sample from Michella Welch’s crime scene. Hartman had been a long-time registered nurse at Western State Hospital and had no known criminal history. His arrest was deeply jarring, particularly because of his respected public role. Hartman pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

His attorney, Bryan Hershman, emphasized the importance of the presumption of innocence, citing the challenges of investigating a case more than 30 years after it occurred. Hershman described Hartman as a devoted family man who had lived an honorable life and urged the public to withhold judgment.

Lindsey Wade’s Legacy and Pursuit of Justice

Detective Wade retired from the Tacoma Police Department in 2018, the same year the arrests were made. But her work was far from over. She joined the Washington Attorney General’s Office, where she helps law enforcement agencies investigate and process untested sexual assault kits. Her dedication to justice continues to impact lives across the state.

Wade has also advocated for legislation that would expand DNA collection laws in Washington. Her efforts have culminated in a proposed law named “Jennifer and Michella’s Law,” aimed at ensuring crimes like these are never again left unsolved due to outdated investigative tools.

Conclusion: A Community Finds Closure

Dateline’s Evil Was Watching not only recounts the horrific events of 1986 but also honors the determination of those who refused to give up. For the families of Michella Welch and Jenni Bastian, the arrests brought a measure of justice, though no resolution can erase the pain of their losses.

The episode underscores the lasting damage violent crime inflicts on families and communities. It also highlights the profound difference one determined investigator can make. Thanks to advancements in DNA technology and the resolve of detectives like Lindsey Wade and Gene Miller, two of Tacoma’s longest-standing mysteries were finally solved—offering long-awaited answers to two grieving families and a shaken city.