Forensic Expert

This is the recovery of a body that was located over the bank.

This is the recovery of a body that was located over the bank.

It's Tonya Bennett all over again. Gosh, maybe this guy did do it. Maybe these people are innocent.

It's Tonya Bennett all over again. Gosh, maybe this guy did do it. Maybe these people are innocent.

They now had not just an anonymous letter writer drawing a happy face. They had a real person.

They now had not just an anonymous letter writer drawing a happy face. They had a real person.

Every morning at the Oregonian, there would be a stack of mail. It was mostly letters and news tips, complaints. I remember that day we got a really sick one. This handwritten letter, several pages, with a, you know, happy face scrawled on the top. And, you know, a smile and two eyes.

Every morning at the Oregonian, there would be a stack of mail. It was mostly letters and news tips, complaints. I remember that day we got a really sick one. This handwritten letter, several pages, with a, you know, happy face scrawled on the top. And, you know, a smile and two eyes.

And these were anonymous letters.

And these were anonymous letters.

About halfway through the first page, the writer confessed to a murder. He named the victim Tanya Bennett.

About halfway through the first page, the writer confessed to a murder. He named the victim Tanya Bennett.

But we already have two people locked up in prison, Laverne Pavlenek and then John Ciesnowski.

But we already have two people locked up in prison, Laverne Pavlenek and then John Ciesnowski.

So it looked like a hoax. But the letter just went on for several pages, all handwritten. And then he started confessing to other murders. And another murder.

So it looked like a hoax. But the letter just went on for several pages, all handwritten. And then he started confessing to other murders. And another murder.

I had to decide whether I was going to recycle it or do something with it. I decided I would give it to a reporter, a guy named Phil Stanford.

I had to decide whether I was going to recycle it or do something with it. I decided I would give it to a reporter, a guy named Phil Stanford.

Phil Sanford, who was sort of a muckraker in many respects, but he could be pretty thorough.

Phil Sanford, who was sort of a muckraker in many respects, but he could be pretty thorough.