8-30-2018
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — DNA evidence gathered in the 30-year-old rape and murder of Mandy Stavik won’t be thrown out and a jury trial is now set to begin November 5.
Lawyers for Timothy Forrest Bass had tried to get DNA recovered from a plastic cup and Coke can thrown out claiming Bass’ co-worker collected the discarded items under the order of detectives working on the Stavik case.
Court documents show Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis ruled there was little-to-no evidence the co-worker was working for law enforcement or under their encouragement, and allowed the recovered evidence to stay.
Bass was arrested in December of last year after officers linked his DNA to evidence gathered from Stavik’s body.