Police search for new evidence in Lindsey Baum disappearance

More than a hundred searchers swept the area.

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office organized a coordinated search of an area in Mason County on March 25 and 26 for possible evidence from Lindsey Baum’s disappearance.

The search, carried out near West Fish Hatchery Road in Mason County, was driven by a tip provided during the investigation, according to a social media post from the sheriff’s office.

”This is such an important case to us,” said Paul Logan, the sheriff’s office Chief of Special Services. “We never know if a small piece of information that someone doesn’t think is important is important to us.”

Baum, then age 10, was last seen on June 26, 2009 after leaving a friend’s house in McCleary. Baum’s partial remains were recovered in the woods near Ellensburg in 2017 and identified by DNA testing, The Daily World previously reported. In early January of 2023, the sheriff’s office decided to take another look at the roughly 10-acre area, an area approximately the size of eight football fields.

“During the initial investigation there was information that there were items found there that could be related to the case,” Logan said. “Based on our ability to conduct a more in-depth search, we decided to put together a more comprehensive search of the area.”

The investigation shifted from a search and rescue to a criminal case, The Daily World previously reported, but no suspect has been charged in the case.

“There are still persons of interest that we’re investigating,” Logan said. “There are still tips we’re investigating.”

About 160 personnel from local, state and federal agencies took part in the search for evidence in the wilderness, including the FBI, search and rescue organizations from King, Pierce, Mason, Kitsap and Snohomish counties, Grays Harbor Emergency Management, and the Attorney General’s Office.

“We had dog teams. We had people out there with tools. We had hand searchers,” Logan said. “A lot of the requirement is to get underneath the forest debris that has fallen since then.”

Logan praised the volunteer searchers for braving foul weather to assist the search.

“Had some rain, had some fog. The volunteer searchers, I think they’re from five counties, they’re incredible,” Logan said. “They’re great at what they do.”

The case is still being actively investigated, according to the social media post; anyone with information about the case should call 360-964-1799, or email baumtips@grays-harbor.wa.us.

Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.