Guys, we found a a suitcase at the beach. Got to >> go. I'll hold yourself. [laughter] Wait, open it. [gasps] >> Open it. >> It's early summer 2020. Teenagers are enjoying the day at Alkai Beach Park in West Seattle when they come across a suitcase near the shoreline. Oh, [music] [music] On a clear day in West Seattle, you can stand on the sand at Alkai Beach and see it all. The Olympic Mountains rising in the west, fairies carving white trails across Puet Sound, and to the northeast, the glass and steel of downtown Seattle, shimmering across Elliot Bay. Alkai, a word from Chinuk jargon meaning by and by or someday. A promise that something great would rise here. And for nearly 170 years, people have been drawn to this shoreline. But on June 19th, 2020, a group of teenagers came looking for something different. Seeking adventure, they fired up Rando Nautica, an app that generates random coordinates and sends users out to discover whatever is waiting there. That day, the coordinates led them straight to the water's edge, where a lone suitcase sat abandoned on the rocks. Guys, we found a a suitcase at the beach. Gabby, >> go. I'll hold your stuff. I don't know. [laughter] >> Wait. Open it. >> Open it. [laughter] >> It stinks, y'all. >> It washed out. [screaming] >> Okay. >> 911. What is your emergency? >> Hi. Um, so we found a suitcase on Dwamish Point in Alkai Beach and it has a [clears throat] pretty bad smell and it's the black trash bag. So, yeah, there's something in it. >> Okay. Where where did you find it exactly, ma'am? Can you give me like the closest cross street? Were you on Elkai Avenue Southwest? And what's the closest cross? Um, it's it's at like this dock called Dwamish Point. I think that's what it's called. I looked on the map and it's on like >> Dwamish Waterway Park, but that's on First Avenue South. Your phone is mapping to Alkai Alkai Avenue. That's >> Yes, that's right. >> Okay. I have a call in. We're going to try to be there just as quickly as we can. I'll let officers know you're going to be standing by with your friends. Okay. >> Okay. All righty. Thank you. >> Thank you. Bye. >> By 3:50 p.m., an [music] hour and 39 minutes after the initial call, officers still hadn't arrived. The teens, who [music] had been standing by the whole time, called 911 again with an update. >> 911, what is your emergency? >> Hi. So, I called about an hour and a half ago. >> Okay. Um, and we found a suitcase that's like really suspicious. It's like in a black bag and it smells really bad. There's flags all around it. >> What address did you give us when you called initially? >> Um, 11:50 Alkai. >> 1150 Alkai Avenue Southwest. >> Yeah. And it's right across the street. >> Okay. >> On the rock. >> Okay. So, has anything changed since you last called? What >> has anything changed since you last called? >> No, but the water is rising and the suitcase is about to get covered. >> Okay, I'll go ahead and make that notation. >> How long do you think it is until the police officer arrives? >> Oh, I don't know. >> Yeah, we don't have that information. I wouldn't be able to tell you. >> Okay. >> All right. I'll let them know that that water is rising. Okay, thank you. >> You're welcome. Bye-bye. >> According to the probable cause affidavit, officers weren't dispatched until 47 p.m. due to what police described as manpower shortage issues. By then, the teens had left. Searching the area, officers quickly found the black suitcase [music] empty. But nearby, a black trash bag floated in the water, something protruding from inside. As they got closer, they saw what appeared to be a human torso. [music] The Seattle Police Department Harbor Unit and Seattle Fire Department were called in to assist. [music] About 7 and 1/2 minutes after officers reported finding human remains, [music] additional information was called in. >> Hello, radio. >> Hey there. Uh, for that call that's down there on Alkai 1150 Alkai. >> Yep. Um, would you be able to check and see if maybe you have a boat that can respond out there? We just found a second bag and it looks like it's human remains, so we might need some assistance uh checking the shoreline for more bags. >> All right, I'll add a fire boat on it also. >> All right, thank you. >> Yep. >> Near the suitcase, officers found a large black duffel bag. It contained a white bag with a human foot inside. Someone had dismembered a body and gone to considerable lengths to conceal and dispose of the remains. Crime scene tape went up and the homicide unit was notified. With no real leads, detectives waited on the autopsy. Meanwhile, reports of the discovery spread quickly through West Seattle. For a community that prided itself on its quiet beaches and small town feel, [music] the news was hard to comprehend. [clears throat] You know, Alkai Beach is it's a really calming, peaceful place. Just wanted to enjoy the weather. >> Kelvin Lim and his girlfriend Shulan went to Alkai Beach for a walk, unaware of what was found less than 24 hours before. >> I think it's undeliverable cuz uh kind of surprising cuz this place seems to be like pretty safe. Friday afternoon, someone found a bag near the water on Alkai Beach that seemed suspicious and called police. The officers that responded to the call realized that bag was filled with human body parts. But it wasn't just one bag. Police say several bags were found and one was floating in the water. >> I was stunned and shocked. It's It's terrible news. >> John Rodie lives in West Seattle and says Alkai is so busy he questions how the remains got there with no one noticing. at this time until, you know, dinner time. It's crowded all the time. It's frightening to think that there's someone out there that would uh do something like that. Shock would quickly turn into horror when 3 days later, additional remains were found about 7 and 1/2 miles away in the Dwamish River. By then, the medical examiner had already identified the remains recovered at Alkai Beach as belonging to not one but two people. 27-year-old Austin Cash Wer and 35-year-old Jessica Lewis. The newly recovered remains were later confirmed to belong to the same two victims. Both had been beaten and shot before being dismembered. A GoFundMe to raise reward money for information leading to the arrest of their killers states Jessica, who had once cared for hospice patients, leaves behind four children and their family and friends are heartbroken. Loved ones said that while she and Cash were far from perfect, they were good-hearted people and did not deserve what happened to them. With the bodies identified, detectives contacted Austin Wer's mother. She said Austin and Jessica had been a couple for 7 years and were inseparable. [music] For the past 6 months, they had rented a room in Burian from an older white male she knew only as Mike. She'd last seen the couple on May 29th when they came to her house to do yard work. She led investigators to the Buran residence and provided Mike's phone number. Both the house and the phone came back to 62-year-old Michael Lee Dudley. He was a senior IT infrastructure engineer with more than a decade of experience working with computer storage systems, servers, networks, and enterprise technology. For the affidavit, Jessica Lewis's phone records showed she called Dudley around 7:00 p.m. on June 9th. A call that pinged off a tower less than a mile from his home. She and Dudley had called and texted each other regularly in the weeks prior, but that evening, her phone suddenly went silent, never sending or receiving again. Whatever happened after that call, Jessica's neighbors may have heard it. According to the affidavit, residents near Dudley's home reported gunshots coming from inside the house that same night, June 9th, along with a man yelling, "Please don't do this. Just let me leave." Bur and police responded, but when no one answered the door, they left a short time later. As the investigation progressed, witnesses came forward. One labeled witness D in police records, "We'll just go ahead and call her D," told police she'd met Dudley through friends 3 months earlier and agreed to rent a space in his home. He helped her move in on June 9th. That night, she noticed his glasses were broken and he had scratches that she described as defensive wounds. After a shower, De opened the door to her upstairs bedroom, the so-called blue room, and saw a bloody hand sticking out of a pile of clothing. When she confronted Dudley, he allegedly said, "Is there somewhere I could take you because I need to clean up a mess." She later watched him lay out large sheets of plastic on the basement floor. D also described shell casings and ammunition in the basement, plus bullet holes in the blue room's walls and furniture. When detectives asked if she'd questioned Dudley about what happened, she said he told her, "Let's just put it this way. His gun misfired and mine didn't." That information helped give police probable cause for a search warrant. On August 19th, 2 months after the bodies were discovered, detectives searched Dudley's home. They corroborated De's account. Bullet holes, bullet strikes, spent rounds, and blood in the blue room where Austin and Jessica had been staying. Dudley was taken into custody and transported to the Seattle Police Department homicide office. He was not told why. Hey, Mike. How you doing, partner? Detective Cooper C, please. [clears throat] Can you sit up for a second? You awake? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, I don't know if anybody's done this for you yet. Um, I got to give you your rights real quick. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right at this time to talk to the lawyer and have your lawyer present while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one may be appointed to represent you before any uh questioning. Uh, additionally, if you are under arrest, you have the right to counsel. And that means if you're unable to pay for counsel, you're are you are entitled to have one provided that charge. So, with that being said, do you understand those? >> Yeah. Am I under arrest? >> Uh, right now you are under arrest right now. What for? >> Well, I'm going to go get my notes. I'm going to come back and I'm going to have a conversation with you and then I'll explain I can answer all your questions for you. Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Are you hungry at all or anything like that? >> No. >> Okay. >> Hey, Michael. I'm detective Paul Takamoto. I did my part myself. >> So, you have no idea what this is about. >> Uh, am I under arrest? You said I was under >> technically you're under arrest. That's why you're here. >> When am I under arrest? >> Well, we're investigating a death. So, a couple people that's supposed to have been staying at your place. >> Are you talking about lost and >> Yeah. So, technically to bring you in here, you're under arrest >> for what? >> For their related to their death, investigation of homicide. Wait a minute. Are you out of your mind? You're saying I killed them? >> Well, that's what I want to talk to you about. [snorts] >> If you didn't do it, then >> I didn't do it. >> Okay. >> They're my friends. >> Okay, then. Okay. People are saying you had something to do with it. >> Who's saying that? >> I'm going to explain all this to you. Okay. But that's why you're here. You're asking I'm trying to answer your questions. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Take a breath. Okay. I just need to ask questions. That's all you have. >> Well, I got a question for you. Why didn't you come ask me this like a month ago? >> Because we're investigating things and people are coming forward and telling us stuff. So before I come to you, it's not one of these things where it's like when people talk bad about my partner, I'm going to go talk to my partner like, "Hey, they're saying this is a serious matter, right?" Yeah. Okay. So if people are pointing the finger at you, I'm going to see what everybody has to say first and then we're going to talk to you. I would think that if they had been living there, you would just come talk to me first. >> Well, and and who are these people? And a number of people. Okay. I'm just I can't tell you who who it is, but there's people that know you that been up on your property and things like that. So, let me let you know what's going on. >> The woman next door. >> Let me finish. I first of all, I I understand you have problems with her. I'm not going to I can't tell you who's talking to me just because as part of my investigation, we don't do that. We don't apologize. But listen listen, I'm going to explain to you. Um the reason you're here is because uh we took you into custody, bring you in to talk to you. At the same time, I served a warrant on your residence and I >> I figured before I've been sitting here all day, right? >> Exactly. I have forensic people out there going through your property and things like that. Okay. Um, and I just want to get how much you know about uh Austin and Jessica that lived with you because apparently that's that's the last place they were seen alive. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, I just want to make sure >> that's him. >> Okay. That's Austin. >> Okay. I just want to make sure we know who we're talking about. >> Um, it looks like her. looks a little different. Uh, but that >> it's a booking photo. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. I >> And it's 2017. It's 3 years old. >> You could change. >> Um, makeup or something. >> Yeah. And I just want to make sure I always throw an easy one in there. Who's that? >> That's me. >> Okay. Without glasses. And who's that? >> That [snorts] looks like an old photo of his aunt Renee. >> Okay. Um, you're right. After they obtained some basic background information, Michael explains that he and Renee, Austin's aunt, were friends [music] and that when Austin's car broke down, Michael helped him out. That connection eventually led Michael to offer Austin a room. >> Took off and um then I got a call from him one day and um he had some car troubles down in Federal Way and uh >> I said something, but I went down, helped him out. and he, you know, he's got the same drug issue as her or her. I mean, I not really my business, okay, >> but apparently he hadn't slept in like seven days or something and was having trouble like staying on the road. So I figured it would probably be better for everybody if he just went sleep. >> Right. Right. So our room, you know, a bedroom and uh then um then the quarantine hit and we couldn't go anywhere. We were kind you were kind of stuck with him. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Um so but he and Jessica moved into your place then or they were end up staying there during the quarantine. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And which room uh would be technically >> They had they had both rooms at one point. Um uh I think the last one was the blue room. >> Okay. Um and just talking to my CSI people there, they said there's three bedrooms upstairs. >> Mhm. So, you come in through the back door, go down the hall, there's one, two, three, and I >> Yeah. U yellow and green. >> Oh, you got to be Well, got that color. >> Uh, that's a good idea. >> And they told me the >> If you go down the hallway, the one to the left was probably the master bedroom. >> The one that has a sunk bathroom. >> Yeah, that's your room. >> Okay. And these two other bedrooms, they stayed in those or they >> shared one? >> No, they they stayed in both of them at some point or another. >> Okay. Um, so you know, of course, everybody's saying that's the last place they were there and um that you were angry at him and you wanted him out of there and um that you own a gun and that you're exal. There's all sorts of talk about you, dude. Uh, so I mean that's that. So technically, you know, I need you need need to bring in investigation of and find out what your story is. I mean, are you an ex? >> No. >> Okay. Ever been in the military? >> I was a Navy brat. I was born in a naval base. >> Oh, okay. I'm an army brat. [laughter] >> I know exactly. Explain. >> Yeah. Yeah. I couldn't get it. An air force brat. >> And my guys are up on the property. Um, do you own guns or anything up there that they're going to find? >> Um, I got um uh most of my guns are over at my nephews. >> Okay. >> And um Chris found one in the car. >> Mhm. >> Um I bought >> Yeah, go ahead. Go for it. >> [clears throat] >> So, I bought a few guns before the U background thing. Well, through all that, but those are mostly all out of my uh >> Okay. And I saw I mean, you you had a drug conviction and you got you restored your gun rights >> back in 2013. >> Okay. Um and is your phone in the car, too? >> Your cell phone? Do you remember? I I was looking. I was looking at your property. >> You don't have it on. Um, and I haven't looked in the car. >> Uh, but I was told, you know, there might be a gun in the car or anything like that. >> Where's Where am I going to find the gun in the car? >> Center console. >> Okay. Um, >> what kind of gun is it? >> Um, it's a Navy Seal um 6 LP26. >> I want that. [laughter] Where'd you find that at? >> I bought it from some Korean Navy shield guy. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah, >> that's impressive. >> Yeah, Koreans have a >> How much you score that for, if you don't mind me asking price? >> Uh, it was a little pricey. >> We're cops. We like guns. >> Yeah, this is like it's a special edition. >> Like you said, before the law um changed. Um, and uh um Yeah. Yeah. And he u uh like triggers modified for the quicker response. So I never I've never shot it. >> Never even use it. >> Wow. >> Is it I mean take it to range. >> Does it have that like anchor on it? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He knows when he says I really want I really want your gun. He's a sick guy. Um, so I mean besides that, anybody else ever come up there and uh cause grief to uh Austin or Jessica or anything? >> No, he he was very private and secretive and I don't recall. I mean, he was like, you know, didn't want people to know where he was. He had some issues with and like I told him, I don't want to know, you know, I don't got time for all this, you know, [ __ ] >> I agree with you. Uh but you know, again, we were quarantined together and uh there's a lot of people that uh probably would have wanted him dead. Put it that way. From some of the stories he was telling me like trying to steal a truckload of tools down there in Canton. They someone came out with AK fully. He said fully automatic AK-47. >> This is what he told you. >> This is what he was telling me. and he's telling me like um how he uh uh he bags some drugs from the some Mexican cartel people. He's always talking about like you know one one thing was either the cartel the Kent hoodlams and or the Kent police. I mean, it's just, you know, that was his three main things. >> Um, but, uh, you know, he'd go on and on about, you know, his conspiracies and this and that. Uh, but then he said, "Oh, no, no, it wasn't Mexicans. It was uh, Samoans." >> Okay. >> And if I got this right, it's the he robbed the Samoans who robbed the Mexicans who owed money to some cartel. Wow. And then I take it take me >> Did he say what he what he robbed from this moment? >> He said it was um like duffel bags full of dope. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Which, you know, I think he took to mean heroin and empetamines. And I said, I don't want to know this. I don't don't talk to me about this. This is not part of my life. You know >> how long ago was that? That was uh oh god track of time a little um we're in August >> August 19th >> [ __ ] month gone by fast um >> August I keep wanting to say May but I I'm just pulling that out of my head. It was um that he was talking about for a long time. It's like uh like he was stalking these people and then uh uh he tried to get me to come help him. I said no. Um it might have gone on from May to um May, June, May, June, July, something like that. >> Okay. like, >> you know, it's like, >> do you ever give names or anything of who he crossed? >> He did, but I don't remember. Uh, I'm really bad with names and I don't want to know. >> No. Yeah. I heard >> he said like the big hay show Samoan surprisingly lived close by me and I think he said a [clears throat] but that I haven't met any of these people. Don't know any of them. Don't want to know any of them. Don't want him on my property. Don't want him. >> Don't you know? >> Does he ever show up? Has he ever been on your property? >> This guy. >> I don't want I wouldn't know him. >> Okay. >> Um I think the only Simone's ever been on my property were when I built had the driveway put in. >> Okay. >> And um I don't know. I mean, he's some kind of Pacific Islander, but Noah uh Noah Construction. He's a concrete guy. >> And he had a bunch of big big boys out there pouring concrete for him. But that was, you know, like 11 years ago when I first moved in or something. >> Um, so I, you know, thought, no, I don't know this this gangster thing and, you know, I don't want to be part of it and I'm not. >> Up to this [music] point, detectives focused on gathering information, establishing Dudley's relationship with Austin and Jessica, their living arrangements, Austin's behavior, and the [music] people Dudley said may have had problems with him. However, following a 19-minute break, [music] Detective Cooper returns and the tone changes. He had just spoken with his forensic team who were still working inside Dudley's house, and he had some questions for Michael. [sighs] So, I just talked to some of my forensics people out there at your house. Okay. So, [clears throat] no one else was staying there during this the quarantine time with you guys except you, Jessica, um Austin. Was Renee there or is >> Okay. So, it's just the three of you. >> Um I got to ask you, you ever shoot your gun in your house? >> Uh I have occasionally. Uh uh u they admit it had I had a misfire. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Sometimes. But >> can you explain that to me? [laughter] >> I I well I know but uh >> we're playing around with it. Um >> the reason um the reason I asked is you know my forensic people they're finding stuff >> and I mean and it's like hey we found >> well you know that thing's been there for like 50 years too. every New Year's and Fourth of July, stuff comes rolling rolling down through the roof. I've got at least two >> two uh whole roof holes that are >> okay needing repair, but um uh what are your friends and people finding? I mean, >> well, they're in the blue room >> and they there's um they said there's a bullet there's two bullet strikes on the wooden bed frame. >> So, I'm like, >> okay. >> Yeah. So, can I mean >> Yeah. >> Can you explain that? >> I've had that I got that from my friend Tom and >> um you know been there for a long time. >> For how long? >> I don't know how long but you know. >> Okay. Who knows? >> I used to I got it used. >> You got >> And it's been around for a long time. So, um but I don't know what that has to do with anything. >> Well, again, we're looking for any sign. I mean, knowing that that that's the last place they were seen alive and trying to figure out which room they were in. You're saying the blue room. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Can you see where to me as an investigator, it's like I got a a bed frame here and there's bullet strikes on the bed frame. >> Okay. Did you see anything about them in the news about uh >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. So, what did you see all about in the news about that? Uh, I've heard something about uh Alkai Beach and and uh washed up in suitcase full of garbage bags or something. >> Okay. And did you hear anything about cause of death or anything like you know they've been shot or anything like that? >> Yeah, I read something about that. Yeah. >> Okay. So, with that being said, people are like pointing the finger at you. I go out there. I'm getting >> point finger at me. >> People that that know you that maybe don't like you. Okay. So, I'm just >> Who who doesn't like me? >> Well, again, well, we all there. Not everybody likes everybody, okay? There's people that don't like >> that [ __ ] next door. >> Well, I can't Again, I told you I'm not going to tell you who it is. I can't do that. But at the same time, >> uh, with that being said, I mean, um, I I have people call me. He said, "Well, Cooper, you got you got bullet strikes in this blue room in the bed frame." >> Okay. And, uh, >> what is it? What does that mean? Well, I'm asking you because I'm asking you, do you recall your gun to being discharged in that room at ever at any time? >> Oh, no. No. Um, no. I think it's more like the living room. >> Okay. Anybody else discharged guns in your house? That's your known. >> Not to my knowledge. Austin always carried a um sold off shotgun with him and Jessica had a pistol in her purse most time. >> Oh, really? >> Okay. Um, and no one has anybody ever been injured in that room or anything because I'm being told there's blood in the room, too. >> Um, well, yeah. I mean, Jessica cut her uh uh 18 stitches in her thigh when she was mocking around with a uh one of these uh what do you call them? Pressure washers that you come up with. Oh yeah, that'll do it. >> Had to um Yeah. >> How long ago was that? >> Oh god, I don't know. Um sometime I just, you know, they went up to Highline Hospital. She got 18 stitches. >> Okay. >> The blood going everywhere. >> Okay. Um so that blood could be hers. >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> You know, and he uh he went through all my first aid kits and what what he was doing with them. >> Who? >> Austin. Austin. >> Hopefully he wasn't shooting up. I would have a problem with that. He told me he wasn't. >> Okay. Um I also have cadaavver dogs out there. You know what a cadaavver dog is, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And they're they're alerting down in the basement and stuff like that >> to stuff and there's some stains down there and stuff like that. I'm just telling you what and that. I'm trying to I'm like >> see if you can explain. Have >> you been in that? >> Uh I have not. So is it >> is a freaking disaster. >> Okay. Is there a chance uh you bled down there? Anybody bled down there? >> It's where I work and sleep a lot of times is down there. >> Okay. >> And uh what are you talking about blood or >> Well, cadaabver dogs hit on decomposition >> bandage or No. >> Dead rats or >> anything. Any anything that's uh usually they they're trained to hit on human decomposition of a body. >> Uh I don't know what that is. >> Well, when you die, you start to decompose. [snorts] >> Well, yeah. I mean, >> so that so I'm I'm asking if there's a reason why these animals >> know dead bodies in my basement. I'm sure of that. Put it that way. even in the chicken coop or anything like that, >> you go have a look. There was there is a couple other things I did want to uh talk to you about or you know see if you're aware of but I am a little concerned. You said I am under arrest. >> Technically you're under arrest. Yeah. >> For >> investigation of homicide. >> Invest. What does that mean? I mean >> that means you haven't been charged with a crime. >> Okay. I was going to say >> when it says investigation of that means that's why you're here. We're investigating it and that's why I'm questioning you and that's why I'm asking you about the strikes and the >> the blood stuff and everything like that. >> Yeah. Um so uh but uh couple things that I think you should uh cuz you know I probably should lawyer up but I want >> it's your choice. >> Well no um I you need to know uh some of this. I mean, they were my friends. Uh >> uh I'm really just surprised that, you know, I haven't seen you to now and I'm really kind of surprised about the dramatic fashion that, you know, he could have just come and knocked on the damn door, >> you know. Um yes and no. You just when there's other information that, you know, we believe someone might have been involved based on what people are telling us. >> Um you got to put yourself in my shoes, you know. So, let me ask you if if you had to guess or surmise what happened to Austin and Jessica. I mean I mean they're they're dead. So they met they met their end with by homicidal means for whatever reason. I mean any idea what happened? I mean, when you heard about this, did any thought go through your head as far as what >> uh you know, I felt kind of sad, but also um like that was the gangster lifestyle he was living and I tried to tell him, >> you know, that's kind of like, you know, it don't it don't work out well. You know, it's not happily ever after. >> So, you didn't have a beef with them at all? >> Oh, we had little beasts with him, you know. It's, you know, always, you know, >> Well, I mean, like a B4. >> I'm She's my friend. He's my friend. >> So, and you were happy with them living there. >> Um, well, I would have been happier if, you know, they hadn't like brought stolen cars and did math all day and paid rent >> and paid rent, you know. So, I I can't say things. Yeah. I can't say I'm really, you know, overjoyed, but they were good people. I mean, uh, you know, uh, shoot she cook and bring their food stamps in and, you know, uh, we get along great, you know, without the outside world there. >> Okay. My phone keeps buzzing. Let me, uh, take this and I'll be right back. >> Mhm. >> You good on water and everything? You want a snack or anything like that? >> Uh, no. No, I'm fine. >> Okay. Thank you. So, Mike. [snorts] All right. I mean, so how many ads have you had up in your house? Accidental discharges with your gun. >> I don't know. >> Okay. I'm trying to understand why my people are telling me they're finding bullet holes, bullet strikes in the blue room and they're about to cut a hole in the wall to retrieve a bullet. >> I don't think I've had any in the blue room. >> Okay. The ones you had, was it with your uh Sig? >> No, my Betta. >> Your Betta? Okay. >> Wish I don't have it anymore. I mean, they're they're finding blood blood swipes, things like that. Um, they just they just sprayed luminol in your room or in the blue room. They're probably going to do your bedroom. You know, if there's any traces of blood or anything, that stuff is going to pop up. Even if you paint over stuff or anything like that, >> what does that mean? That mean >> Well, I'm asking you because look, let me ask you. Uh, did you have you had the police out on your property investigating shots fired call before? >> No. >> Never. >> Never. >> Never. Because I did a a history check with the King County Police Department >> and on the 9th of June. >> Huh? >> They came to your house because there was a neighbors had reported shots being fired at inside your house. >> I said I didn't call them. And >> well, of course you're not going to call them because it came from inside your house. But I'm asking, do you remember that? >> No. >> Okay. Anybody else inside your house that would be firing guns? >> No. >> Okay. Um, so you don't remember the cops coming there in the evening? >> H, >> you don't remember the cops coming on the 9th of June to your house? >> No, never knocking on the door. >> I never saw or talk to any cops. >> Okay. If they came and knocked on the door, would you answer? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You have a video system in your house? Video security system? >> I have a camera. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh what's the retention period on it? >> 30 days. >> 30 days, I >> think. >> Okay. Um, you know, there's a reason we don't when people start pointing the finger at people that I mean Austin and Jessica lived at your place. That was the last place they lived at. They actually told people if something bad happened to me, you know, this Mike [ __ ] did [ __ ] to me. I'm just telling you. >> Well, his mom told me that. >> Who? Austin's mos. >> Austin's mom. So you what? >> What part of I just said that? You don't understand. >> Mike did [ __ ] to them. >> Uhhuh. If something ever happened to him. >> Mike did [ __ ] What does that mean? >> You tell me. >> I don't know. Have you? >> They said if anything bad ever happened to us, look at Mike. >> Why would they even >> I don't know. That's why I'm asking you. Thought she >> And why would they say that to her? Have you talked to Renee about her sister at all? >> Yeah. >> What did she have to say about that? >> Well, I'm not going to go into what she told me or anything like that. >> She told me not to talk to her sister cuz she's bonkers. So, I I I don't I know. I can't I can't help I can't help you with that. I don't know what you're talking about. >> Okay. >> With that. I never That's just out of character. >> Okay. So, so when we test the blood in those rooms and stuff, they're not going to come back to Jessica or or >> I don't know how I mean how would I know? I'm not >> Well, it's your house person. >> They live there. >> Yeah. >> Why? Yeah. I don't I don't know. You're asking me to speculate and I I can't. >> I don't even know what it means, you know. >> Okay. I mean, I'm trying to get your side of the story. If something happened to them there, and you know something about it, this is probably the time you want to tell us. >> Uh, I [snorts] mean, what can I say? I didn't kill them. And, uh, I don't know what happened to them. >> And, uh, uh, well, I mean, I've done my research. I know there was something that happened on the night there at that at your house. Um, and there's people that don't even know you that that call that in. Okay. And I um I I just was hoping that you be able to put some clarity on it as far as what what happened that night. No, I I don't recall. You know, I never talked to or saw any police uh that uh um No, that uh >> Okay. You weren't out of town or anything, were you? >> No. >> Okay. >> No. No. I mean, that was I think quarantine. >> Okay. So, more than likely you were home. >> Uh yeah. Home or close by? I don't know. >> Okay. Um and it's just you three. >> Yeah. So, Mike, when did you find out about Austin and Jessica's death? How How did you find out? >> Um, I think Richie called me and told me. >> Richie >> talked to uh um Renee. >> Renee? >> Did you see it on the news at all? >> Well, I saw the news after that. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, begs a question. Why didn't you call the police? You you >> I was waiting for you guys to call me. I figured you'd be right there. >> When we didn't call, why why didn't you call? >> Uh, well, there's really nothing to report other I figured, you know, you'd be there. Isn't that part of your standard procedure? >> Yeah, but >> I was kind of sitting there like wondering why, you know, where the hell you guys have been? >> But you just sat here for the last hour or so talking about how they're good you're good friends. >> Yeah. >> And you heard what happened to him and how brutal it was. I I just >> Yeah. I I think Detective Takamo has a good point. It's like um I mean if they were such good friends and everything like that I mean >> because a lot of people that that were good friends that hadn't even talked to either of them for two or three years reached out to us. Well, you know, uh I suppose part of it was, you know, that um uh I thought you guys would be coming right along >> pretty quick and I >> But when we didn't. >> Now, I start wondering what the hell is going on. >> I mean, there were people that knew them less than you did. I mean, you you pretty much roommed with them. They lived with you. >> I had a guy figured you >> I had a guy from Who the hell you guys were? I had a guy from Eastern Washington that hadn't talked to him for four years and called us. >> So I I mean, >> do you see why we're kind of perplexed? >> Well, I was perplexed, too. I mean, >> you know, I was expecting you guys, you know, at least on TV that's what they do. They come along, you know. >> Mhm. >> I mean, you know, I had nothing to add to it. So, >> let me ask you that. [snorts] Since Austin and Jessica have been gone, have you thrown away all their stuff and gotten rid of everything? >> Oh, they um uh let me think. There might be some stuff still in the basement, but um uh yeah, most of the most of what they left behind was just pure rubbish, garbage. [music] 5 days after the interview, prosecutors formally charged Michael Dudley with two counts of secondderee murder. He was held on $5 million bail. Investigators believe a dispute over unpaid rent and lifestyle matters [music] escalated on June 9th with Austin pleading for his life before gunshots rang out. 10 days later, the suitcases containing the victim's remains washed ashore in West Seattle. But the investigation revealed more than what happened inside Dudley's home. His criminal record stretched back decades. A DUI in Oregon in 1977, California convictions in the mid '90s for carrying a concealed weapon, joy riding, and vehicle theft, and a 1996 felony drug conviction in Washington. A former girlfriend told reporters Dudley had violently assaulted her, leading to a 2016 arrest. One of Jessica Lewis's relatives described a pattern of controlling threatening behavior. Damaged vehicles, tracking devices preventing people from leaving his property, [music] and threats with firearms. Local media reported those allegations, though not all were established [music] in court. Additionally, he had a documented history of very troubling allegations. In 2018, his adult daughter filed for a sexual assault protection order, alleging years of abuse and threats with firearms and other weapons. The petition was denied, but not because a court found her allegations to be false. The court ruled that the allegations did not meet the statutory definition for such an order under Washington law and stated that they instead fell under domestic violence. The case of the state of Washington versus Michael Lee Dudley went to trial. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts. On April 7th, 2023, Dudley was sentenced to 46 [music] years and 8 months in prison. An investigation that began with two people vanishing from a Buran home and their remains surfacing miles away had finally reached its legal conclusion. >> [music] [music]