Unsolved: Deaths of 3 still puzzle law enforcement

When the bodies of Susanna Stodden and her mother, Mary Cooper, were found on a hiking trail in a remote part of eastern Snohomish County, the case drew national attention. But today, more than five months later, there have been few answers surrounding the case — and no suspects.

Snohomish County detectives received hundreds of tips and spent days collecting evidence in the woods near Pinnacle Lake, where the women were found dead July 11.

But it's still not clear who shot Stodden, 27, and Cooper, 56, at the end of a popular hiking trail near Mount Pilchuck, or why.

"We're still actively pursuing leads," Sheriff's Office spokesman Rich Niebusch said. The Sheriff's Office is also still asking the public to come forward with tips that might help them identify the killer, he said.

The Sheriff's Office tip line is 425-388-3845.

Yet, even a $26,000 reward being offered by an outdoors group and Crimestoppers hasn't brought in enough information to help identify a motive or possible killer.

The case is being reviewed by FBI criminal profilers, the Sheriff's Office said earlier this year. The result of that review is not yet available.

David Stodden, husband and father to Cooper and Susanna Stodden, has produced detailed maps of the area showing possible escape routes. Stodden also reportedly agreed to take a lie-detector test.

Stodden has said he believes the killings were random; the Sheriff's Office said it's investigating that possibility.

Body of missing man found

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner is examining bones of a young Granite Falls man who detectives believe was probably murdered.

Meanwhile, detectives don't know the whereabouts of a man once arrested and charged with the murder — the charges were dropped in September for a lack of evidence since no body had been found.

But in October, the remains of Brandon Kempf, 19, of Granite Falls, were found in a remote area off the Mountain Loop Highway.

Kempf had been missing since August 2005 when some of his bloody clothing was found on a bridge on the highway.

Investigators are waiting for the medical examiner to determine whether Kempf died of homicidal violence or if his death was an accident, Niebusch said.

If the death was a homicide, it's likely detectives will again go after a 20-year-old Lake Stevens man they arrested and charged with the crime in March.

The Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death is still pending.

In the case against the Lake Stevens man, court documents said detectives recovered a knife they believe was the murder weapon. Detectives initially arrested the Lake Stevens suspect allegedly because he bragged to friends about the killing.

Brian Anderson: 425-745-7845 or balexander@seattletimes.com