WA WA - Christopher Bridgeman, 33, Olympia, 1963

[ShowerSinger]

Interesting article about current search.

www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050130/topstories/78300.shtml

 

[Richard]

Christopher H. Bridgeman, Jr.
Missing since 1963 from Thurston County, Washington
Classification: Missing

Vital Statistics
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male.

Circumstances of Disappearance
Bridgeman was last seen in a Thurston County, Washington motel in 1963.
He vanished after leaving his 6-year-old son alone during a custody visitation at a Martin Way motel.

Bridgeman's children thought their father had deserted them to pursue a career in country music.

But last year, a cousin the family hadn't seen in years called them with a disturbing theory: that Bridgeman's father, Christopher H. Bridgeman Sr., had killed his son and buried him in his basement. The theory gained a foothold when the missing man's driver's license turned up in Christopher Bridgeman Sr.'s belongings.

In 2004, the family started sifting through dirt and clearing debris from the old vacant home just outside of Olympia.

The grandfather, who has since died, built an extension to the basement about the time his son disappeared, which is why family members and investigators think the remains could be beneath the old house. After Bridgeman's daughter reported her belief to authorities, investigators with the Thurston County Sheriff's Office also came to the conclusion that her father probably met with foul play.

Some remember Christopher Bridgeman Sr., a self-proclaimed minister and builder, as having both charisma and a hot temper. He could change from one to the other in a flash, family members said.

The grandfather told family members that he took two weeks every year to travel to cities around the West Coast, looking for his son and filing missing persons reports. No one, including the sheriff's office, can confirm that a missing persons report ever was filed.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Thurston County Sheriff's Office Detective Louise Adams 360-786-5530

Source Information:
The Olympian 1/30/05
The Doe Network: Case File 1506DMWA

Link:
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1506dmwa.html

 

[Yaya]

I checked Newspaper Archives and could find nothing... at all.

 

[Richard]

This is a case where the use of in-ground radar should be considered. They have a rather small area to search, and a suspicion that a body might be under a cement slab.

 

[Yaya]

Richard, I don't know anything about how ground radar works or what it's parameters are. If you have knowledge of it will you explain.

1. What are depth parameters?
2. Does the thickness of the concrete preclude it being used in some cases?
3. Is it readily available to most Law Enforcement?
4. Why wouldn't in-ground radar always be the first and best alternative when looking for bodies in or around concrete? (It seems it would prevent the destruction of evidence and enable LE to better prepare to investigate a crime scene.)

I'm curious as to why it is not used in a lot of cases. I'm wondering if it could have been used in this case: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=3764049
Police brought in crews to rip up concrete in the carport with jackhammers on Tuesday afternoon, and teams in hazardous-material protective suits began removing green metal drums from the property later in the evening. Examiners will try to identify the second body through dental records, Rodriguez said.

 

[PonderingThings]

Yaya you may (or may not) be interested in this article about Necrosearch. They talk a little about how they determine if there is a grave:

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/NEWS01/60129001/1002

 

[Richard]

Richard, I don't know anything about how ground radar works or what it's parameters are. If you have knowledge of it will you explain.

1. What are depth parameters?
2. Does the thickness of the concrete preclude it being used in some cases?
3. Is it readily available to most Law Enforcement?
4. Why wouldn't in-ground radar always be the first and best alternative when looking for bodies in or around concrete? (It seems it would prevent the destruction of evidence and enable LE to better prepare to investigate a crime scene.)

I'm curious as to why it is not used in a lot of cases. I'm wondering if it could have been used in this case: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=3764049 ...

In ground radar works on the same principles as Sonar for ships or radar for ground to air. Sonograms of the human body are perhaps a closer comparison. Basically, a signal is sent out and echos are returned to the machine. There is a screen which depicts "anomalies" or differences/disturbances in the magnetic field. These anomalies might appear simply as a spot or a blip, or might be a large field.

The machine has to be tuned to the depth being searched, and it may have built in depth parameters and limitations. For instance, if you intend looking for oil deposits, you are not so concerned with objects near the surface, and therefor have no interest in such capabilities. On the other hand, if you are normally looking for buried cables or something closer to the surface, you have no need for the power and increased weight needed for deeper exploration. In other words, you need the right tool for the job, and cost is always a factor.

Most police do NOT have their own In-Ground Radar or the trained personnel to operate them. They would probably have to get an archaeology firm or school to assist them.

While concrete with re-bar or reinforcement might provide a screen or obstacle, in ground radar can see through it.

In-ground radar use is limited for a number of reasons. First is availability and cost. Second would be that a search warrant might be necessary in many instances - and that requires a reasonable suspicion that something might be found in a certain vicinity.

Also, terrain and vegetation play a big part. The equipment has to be dragged over the ground in an even and level manner.

In Ground radar, at best gives patterns and anomalies beneath the surface. It cannot state with any kind of positivity that a given anomaly is a grave or body. One would still have to employ digging techniques such as an archaeologist uses to verify and record results, and to recover evidence.

 

[Richard]

Bumping this case up. Has anyone heard any updates or read any more on this case?

 

[ohwell1971]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/bridgeman_christopher.html

 

[ohwell1971]

http://www.k9sardog.com/missions.html

"06-14-06 2006-3890-181(A). Thurston Co. Missing Person Christopher Bridgeman Jr., Missing since 1964. Evening magazine did a story. Consulted with family."

 

[Kat]

Well written blog:

http://junkgrrl317.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

Saturday, January 1, 2011

 

[Richard]

This year marks 50 years since Christopher H. Bridgeman, Jr went missing.

Are there any updates or anniversary articles?

 

[VictoriaVictoria]

His daughter is looking for family on ancestry.com

 

[Gardener1850]

Christopher is in NAMUS: https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/22762/

 

[Savemecastiel]

Bumping

 

[Cimatico]

Enhanced image from source The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

The Doe Network: Case File 1506DMWA

 

[heartanium]

https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article180924386.html

 

[mysticscooby]

Christopher H. Bridgeman, Jr.
Missing since 1963 from Thurston County, Washington
Classification: Missing

Vital Statistics
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male.

Circumstances of Disappearance
Bridgeman was last seen in a Thurston County, Washington motel in 1963.
He vanished after leaving his 6-year-old son alone during a custody visitation at a Martin Way motel.

Bridgeman's children thought their father had deserted them to pursue a career in country music.

But last year, a cousin the family hadn't seen in years called them with a disturbing theory: that Bridgeman's father, Christopher H. Bridgeman Sr., had killed his son and buried him in his basement. The theory gained a foothold when the missing man's driver's license turned up in Christopher Bridgeman Sr.'s belongings.

In 2004, the family started sifting through dirt and clearing debris from the old vacant home just outside of Olympia.

The grandfather, who has since died, built an extension to the basement about the time his son disappeared, which is why family members and investigators think the remains could be beneath the old house. After Bridgeman's daughter reported her belief to authorities, investigators with the Thurston County Sheriff's Office also came to the conclusion that her father probably met with foul play.

Some remember Christopher Bridgeman Sr., a self-proclaimed minister and builder, as having both charisma and a hot temper. He could change from one to the other in a flash, family members said.

The grandfather told family members that he took two weeks every year to travel to cities around the West Coast, looking for his son and filing missing persons reports. No one, including the sheriff's office, can confirm that a missing persons report ever was filed.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Thurston County Sheriff's Office Detective Louise Adams 360-786-5530

Source Information:
The Olympian 1/30/05
The Doe Network: Case File 1506DMWA

Link:
1506DMWA - Christopher H. Bridgeman, Jr.

Hello, I wanted to update you on the case of Christopher Bridgeman. I am one of his children who was born after his disappearance in 1963, one of his 5 children born after he left. I can update you but this case was solved when one of his other grandchildren, actually Rick Bridgeman's daughter, found us. He died from cancer and dementia in May 2010 in Sandpoint, Id. <modsnip: personal, identifying information>

 

[Richard]

Hello, I wanted to update you on the case of Christopher Bridgeman. I am one of his children who was born after his disappearance in 1963, one of his 5 children born after he left. I can update you but this case was solved when one of his other grandchildren, actually Rick Bridgeman's daughter, found us. He died from cancer and dementia in May 2010 in Sandpoint, Id. <modsnip: personal, identifying information>

Good to hear of a missing person case in which he was actually living a long life after his voluntary disappearance. A rare, but possible explanation for other cases.

In this case, it is sad that he abandoned his two children, causing them the anguish of not knowing him. Sad too, that people suspected his own father of having killed him.

 

[Tricia]

Hello, I wanted to update you on the case of Christopher Bridgeman. I am one of his children who was born after his disappearance in 1963, one of his 5 children born after he left. I can update you but this case was solved when one of his other grandchildren, actually Rick Bridgeman's daughter, found us. He died from cancer and dementia in May 2010 in Sandpoint, Id. <modsnip: personal, identifying information>

Thank you, Christi, for the update.
Do you know if the police have closed your father's case? He is still listed as missing on several missing persons' websites, including a Washington state website.
Could a Websleuths member also do some checking? That would be great.
From what I can see, your dad is still officially listed as missing.
Thank you
Tricia