CrowdSolve: Can we Find Justice for Karen Bodine?

Meet Karen Bodine. Karen was a vivacious, fun-loving friend who always greeted people with a smile. She had three children and lived in Olympia, Washington her entire life. On January 22, 2007 Karen’s body was found fifteen feet off a country road in nearby Rochester, WA. She was discovered lying on her back with her head resting on an abandoned car seat. Investigators found no outward evidence of trauma but noted “suspicious markings” on Karen’s body.

The case has baffled investigators for twelve years. The details are curious. Yet a quick Google search turns up only a smattering of vague articles published in the days and weeks after her death.

After recent developments in our initial selected case - the disappearance of Nancy Moyer - limited the amount of information CrowdSolvers could examine, we needed a case for CrimeCon: CrowdSolve participants to investigate. Karen Bodine's case needed attention.

“We selected this case specifically because it didn’t get the attention some bigger cases get,” says retired U.S. Marshal Art Roderick. “Twelve years later, there’s still a victim that deserves justice.” Roderick will serve as Chief CrowdSolve Investigator and guide participants through the case during the four-day event this October 17-20. The case is solvable, Roderick says, it just needs even a tiny break.

“The case has bounced around between 4-5 detectives over the years,” he explains. “Things happen; witnesses move away, investigators come and go.” It’s understandable - circumstances change - but also frustrating for Karen’s family and loved ones. Karen’s case also weighs heavily on the minds of the investigators who have worked it. “It strikes a nerve,” Roderick says. “When you ask about a case that sticks out in their minds, Karen Bodine is always the one. There’s nowhere to go and it’s frustrating.”

Despite the dry spell of new leads, Roderick says there is plenty of material in the Karen Bodine case file for CrowdSolve participants to digest. CrowdSolvers will have access to the full, unredacted case file during their participation. “There are phone records, crime scene photos, police reports, statements, and so much more. We even know about 5-6 people who aren’t quite persons of interest at this point but who are definitely on the radar.”

CrowdSolve participants will work alongside real-world investigators to uncover new leads that will help the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office move forward on Karen’s case. “We hope to have every detective who worked the case over the past twelve years present at CrowdSolve to assist,” Roderick says. The panel of investigators will also be joined by TCSO Detective Mickey Hamilton and a lineup of crime scene investigators, forensics experts, profilers, and more exerts to assist in the investigation.

Members of Karen’s family will also be on site to answer questions, but also to help participants get to know Karen as a person. “Her children are extremely happy to have people talking about their mother’s case again,” says Roderick. “Their goal is to keep it front-of-mind for investigators and the community and for people to remember Karen as a person instead of a victim.”