AK AK - Jessica Baggen, 17, Sitka, 4 May 1996

[norest4thewicked]

Thanks so much for doing that Hollye! I really do not know the exact place. I know that it was a trailer in one of the trailer parks. Let me see if I can find out more info.
This is a great start!

 

[Kat]

Just some links I found in google archives.

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/012702/ala_012702ala0050001.shtml
January 27, 2002

Looks like there was some misconduct within LE and Jessica's name is within text of article.

http://juneauempire.com/stories/071700/Loc_rape.html
Posted: Monday, July 17, 2000By SVEND HOLST
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

What's known is that Baggen was brutally raped, and died of suffocation after the killer stuffed mud and dirt into her mouth until it blocked her breathing. She was covered with brush and dirt, and pushed under a low-slung branch of a tree.

This one was an interesting article.

This is a blog that has articles from the 90's copied and pasted. Looks like they were not edited by the author of this blog.
http://sakaraoke.blog.friendster.com/category/murder-mystery/

This thread is user posted info (much like WS, but not supported with internet links) the reason I'm bringing this link here is because if I'm reading this correctly about midway through this thread the poster copy and pastes (and redacts names) a letter that was written by poster to Assistant Attorney General State of Alaska Department of Law complaining about LE corruption in Sitka and also about a male that worked at the Excursion Inlet fish processing facility that allegedly stalked and was sexually agressive with this poster. There are duplicates of the articles that I have posted and perhaps some that haven't been posted to this thread yet? (older thread)

http://www.headlinezone.com/index.php?showtopic=3184
Lot of off topic to Jessica but Jessica is mentioned and articles about her murder are posted. Might not be related (guy accused of stalking but who knows at this point) just posting for consideration and because it references Jessica.

That's about all I saw. A few articles addressing the man that was aquited and the techniques used in his interogation. Etc.

HTH.

 

[norest4thewicked]

Yes, Kat, I think that almost the entire department that was in Sitka at the time is gone now. I will have to take the words of the ones who know about the corruption, but I feel strongly that if there was corruption, it was partnered with complete lack of experience, etc. I know that Bingham's brother also lived there at this time. Could there have been two people involved? I just wish that there was a way to find where this Richard Bingham is now, but that would be almost impossible because his name is so common.

This was such a horrendous crime that I just can't believe that someone from the community committed it and has just stopped killing. The brutality of this rape and murder was done by someone who has not stopped. Sadly, the only way that I feel we will solve this case is if he is caught in another rape/murder.

 

[norest4thewicked]

Bumping for Jessica.

 

[Soulmagent]

Just a quick question as it does apear to be a local crime but where there any suicides of anyone within Jessica's age group in the area arround the time of the murder. Anyone connected to her in anyway?
https://extranet.dhss.alaska.gov/sites/stopsuicide/News/Southeast%20suicide%20prevention%20task%20force%20holds%20first%20meeting.pdf

 

[norest4thewicked]

Just a quick question as it does apear to be a local crime but where there any suicides of anyone within Jessica's age group in the area arround the time of the murder. Anyone connected to her in anyway?
https://extranet.dhss.alaska.gov/sites/stopsuicide/News/Southeast%20suicide%20prevention%20task%20force%20holds%20first%20meeting.pdf

Sadly, I don't know where to find that info and believe that if there had been a suicide among her friends, that it would have been common news. This is the smallest of small communities and I think that the main problem is that the police were inept to handle it. I fear that the way Jessica was murdered was such that this person almost had to be a serial killer of some sorts and frighteningly, is probably still active somewhere in the continental USA. A person this brutal in what they did would not just stop. It was an extremely violent crime.

 

[JenniferTx]

Do you have any idea how old Richard Bingham is now? I might be able to find something for you. Let me know and I will do what I can to find him. Also, any idea of his middle name from old records?

 

[JenniferTx]

Alright I just did a little searching and I believe Richard Bingham is 49 years old and his middle name starts with a "R" I believe. Am I on the right track?

 

[JenniferTx]

I think I have found him. He no longer lives in Sitka, Ak. He now resides in Bellingham, WA. He is 49 years old and once worked as a janitor in AK. Would you like his address so you can contact him? I don't think I should post his address on here so I could send it to you in a private message if you would like.

 

[norest4thewicked]

Oh my gosh YES Jennifer! I really want to do some checking on this guy. Please let me know by PM what you came up with. Thank you SO much! I'll keep you posted on this.

 

[KariKae]

Questions about Richard Bingham -

1) Did he come forward on his own? Or did LE track him down, question him, and obtain the confession?

2) Is there any history of mental illness?

 

[JenniferTx]

Questions about Richard Bingham -

1) Did he come forward on his own? Or did LE track him down, question him, and obtain the confession?

2) Is there any history of mental illness?

Good questions. There wasn't much said about this case. Seems like it didn't get very much attention at all which is sad.

 

[KariKae]

If LE tracked him down and he made a confession, that leads me to believe there is some evidence pointhing them to him.

If he came foward on his own and did not know any details, I would think he was mentally ill.

 

[goldiegirl]

NoRest - anything new in this case? I saw it for the first time on the bottom of your post in the Holly Bobo thread, so I decided to take a look. I lived in Dillingham from the time I was born in 1987-1989, when I was two years old, haha. My parents lived in Dillingham for 5 years before then. Obviously I don't remember it, but anything about Alaska still interests me. This case is very disturbing, and it makes the short list of cases I'll follow closely. Thank you for bringing this all to our attention. I'd be interested in any updates.

 

[norest4thewicked]

NoRest - anything new in this case? I saw it for the first time on the bottom of your post in the Holly Bobo thread, so I decided to take a look. I lived in Dillingham from the time I was born in 1987-1989, when I was two years old, haha. My parents lived in Dillingham for 5 years before then. Obviously I don't remember it, but anything about Alaska still interests me. This case is very disturbing, and it makes the short list of cases I'll follow closely. Thank you for bringing this all to our attention. I'd be interested in any updates.

Nice to meet a fellow "former" Alaskan!

I am about to go on hiatus in June from my current job and will be spending a lot of time on this case. I will keep everyone posted here as news comes up. I just can't believe that this crime is unsolvable and I know that passing time makes it more difficult to solve, but I believe that it can be solved and there can be peace for the family.

 

[JeannieC]

The report by the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council for fiscal year 2010 says Alaska's overall suicide rate is twice the national average, and that Alaska Natives continue to account for an even more disproportionate number.

I had heard this several years ago. They have been working for the past 10 or more years on suicide prevention groups and other measures to assist people in crisis.

http://www.adn.com/2011/01/12/1645956/report-says-suicide-remains-an.html

 

[norest4thewicked]

The report by the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council for fiscal year 2010 says Alaska's overall suicide rate is twice the national average, and that Alaska Natives continue to account for an even more disproportionate number.

I had heard this several years ago. They have been working for the past 10 or more years on suicide prevention groups and other measures to assist people in crisis.

http://www.adn.com/2011/01/12/1645956/report-says-suicide-remains-an.html

This was not a suicide. Jessica was murdered...raped and strangled with leaves and dirt shoved deep into her throat to suffocate her. This was a violent crime.

 

[JeannieC]

This was not a suicide. Jessica was murdered...raped and strangled with leaves and dirt shoved deep into her throat to suffocate her. This was a violent crime.

Hi Norest4thewicked. I meant to link this to a previous post asking whether anyone near to Jessica had committed suicide. I know she didn't. I apologize for failing to explain further.

Alaska has such a high rate of suicide that probably everyone knows someone or knows of someone who has committed suicide. I think the poster was wondering if someone could have murdered her and then committed suicide.

The link we both posted is a group in Ala that is dealing with the issue and has been for over 10 years. They would know who did, when they did, and where they lived. They might not release the name but they might give out the date and place.

Suicide can be anger turned inward, depression, and a lot of other things. This murder was an act of rage. Maybe the killer regretted it and turned that rage inward. I think that was what the previous poster was eluding to.

 

[norest4thewicked]

There were no suicides in the community that has been reported. I appreciate your thoughts and, having lived in Alaska myself for over 20 years, I am very familiar with the suicide rate there, but this doesn't seem to be a clue in this case. I didn't understand this paragraph:

The link we both posted is a group in Ala that is dealing with the issue and has been for over 10 years. They would know who did, when they did, and where they lived. They might not release the name but they might give out the date and place.

Thanks!

 

[JeannieC]

There were no suicides in the community that has been reported. I appreciate your thoughts and, having lived in Alaska myself for over 20 years, I am very familiar with the suicide rate there, but this doesn't seem to be a clue in this case. I didn't understand this paragraph:

The link we both posted is a group in Ala that is dealing with the issue and has been for over 10 years. They would know who did, when they did, and where they lived. They might not release the name but they might give out the date and place.

Thanks!

I meant if someone wanted to see if there was a suicide following her murder they could contact that organization and they would have that information.

I'm like you, I don't really think that plays into this murder. I could be wrong. Its just imo.