Missing Girl Lindsey Baum’s Remains Found

McCleary, WA – The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office announced today during a press conference that the remains of missing 10-year old Lindsey Baum of McCleary, Washington were found by hunters in a remote area of Eastern Washington in the fall of 2017.   Lindsey Baum was reported missing on June 26th, 2009 when she vanished after leaving a friend’s home. She was going to walk the four or five  blocks to her house but never arrived.

A timeline of the events leading up to the disappearance of Lindsey Baum were released by Q13 News. The timeline is below:

In Early Summer of 2009, Melissa Baum and her two kids, Lindsey and her older brother Josh, moved to McCleary, Washington from Tennessee following a divorce.

On June 26th, 2009, Lindsey spent most of the day at a friend’s house, swimming in a pool. She and her brother reportedly returned home briefly and then went to another friend’s house on Maple Street in McCleary. Lindsey and her brother reportedly got into an argument over a bicycle at the friend’s house  and her brother returned home.

Lindsey asked if she could stay the night at the friend’s house, but the friend’s mom said no. Lindsey left around 9:15 p.m. to return home, which was about a 10-minute walk back to her house. A neighbor saw her walking home between 5th and 6th Street and it was the last time anyone saw her alive.

Around 10:00 p.m., Lindsey’s mom Melissa  called the friend’s mom, who told her Lindsey had left about an hour ago. Lindsey’s mom then called her cell phone, but it was at home on a charger. Around 10:45 p.m., Melissa called the police to report her daughter missing.

A massive search and rescue effort was launched in the hours and days after Lindsey  vanished, but no signs of her were ever found.

Family and friends started a massive online “Missing persons” campaign with attempts to find Lindsey through the use of Media and Social Media. Lindsey was featured on the cover of People Magazine in 2009 and several news agencies have run stories on her disappearance.

In 2010, Police and F.B.I agents searched the home of a 47-year old man who provided inconsistent statements to police. He was not arrested.

In 2012, Sheriff’s Deputies and the F.B.I looked at the home of a local shop owner and Jewelry Store owner, Tim Hartman. He was called a “Person of Interest” by Law Enforcement after ropes, and handwritten notes about Lindsey’s disappearance were found in his home. He was not arrested.

In 2014, Police following up on tips, investigated another man, but again no arrests were made.  Later in 2014, a Crab Fisherman found a skull in a crab pot off the coast of Grays Harbor County.  The Sheriff’s Office released a statement that the skull did not belong to Lindsey.

In the Summer of 2017, Police searched a home in Mason County, Washington after a relative of the owners found evidence of child exploitation as she was cleaning the home of her three uncles who lived in the home together  for 55-years.  The home belonged to the Emery Brothers, who Detectives say were charged with possession of child porn after detectives found it packed floor-to-ceiling with child pornography, children’s toys and clothes.  The Emery Brothers, all in their late 70’s to early 80’s did not have children of their own. Missing Person Flyers of Lindsey Baum were also found in the house, leading detectives to look further into the brothers  being connected to the disappearance of  Lindsey Baum.

In today’s Press Conference, (May 10th, 2018)  Grays Harbor Sheriff Rick Scott said human remains were found by hunters in a remote area of Eastern Washington in September of 2017. At the time of the discovery of the remains, the remains were not immediately tied to an active investigation, so the remains were sent to the FBI Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia for analysis and identification on a non priority basis.  Once the remains were analyzed and  processed, the DNA matched the DNA  of missing child Lindsey Baum. Grays Harbor Detectives were notified of the match in the last several weeks and then notified the Baum family before holding the press conference.

Sheriff Scott said “In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, the location where the remains were found will not be provided until a later date.” He also said the condition of the remains or any other details would not be released. He continued to say  that the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office continues to work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on this case. It is no longer a missing child case and is now being investigated as a  Kidnapping and Homicide.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call or email the grays harbor County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 964-1799 or via email at baumtips@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.

An Admin of the Find Lindsey Baum Facebook Page wrote, Lindsey’s Mom, Melissa Baum, as well as the relatives and close friends of Lindsey wish to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support since the onset of Lindsey’s disappearance on June 26th, 2009. While we experiencing profound grief and mourning the loss of “OUR ANGEL” Lindsey at this time, we respectfully ask for your understanding of our need for privacy. Silent prayers of support are always welcome. GOD BLESS YOU ONE AND ALL.

You can follow the Find Lindsey Baum Facebook Page for updates and information  by clicking here.