Only Murders on the Harbor

Kaydee Mittleider
  • 4.4 (7)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • BIWEEKLY SERIES

Only Murders on the Harbor takes you deep into the misty corners of Grays Harbor County, Washington, where rugged coastlines, towering forests, and small-town charm conceal a darker side. Known for its eerie landscapes and quiet, coastal towns, this region is also home to some of the Pacific Northwest's most chilling true crime stories. In each episode, we explore haunting tales of serial killers, unsolved disappearances, and strange, unexplained events that have left a lasting mark on the community. From eerie forests to forgotten backroads, the county’s history is ripe with mystery and menace. With thorough research, gripping storytelling, and interviews with experts, we dive into the crimes and unsolved cases that have shaped Grays Harbor's dark legacy. Whether it’s chilling accounts of justice served or lingering mysteries that still haunt the area, Only Murders on the Harbor unveils the chilling truth behind the most terrifying cases that have made this region a haunting backdrop for crime and intrigue. If you’re ready to uncover the secrets buried in the fog, this podcast is for you.

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  1. The Road That Remembers - David Allen Gerard

    EPISODE 1

    The Road That Remembers - David Allen Gerard

    Season Two of Only Murders on the Harbor opens with one of the most disturbing cases to emerge from Grays Harbor County, Washington. This episode examines the life and violence of David Allen Gerard — and the victims whose stories might otherwise have been forgotten. Raised in Aberdeen, Gerard’s early life was marked by instability, isolation, and escalating aggression. Over time, his relationships became increasingly volatile, with a documented history of domestic violence that, in hindsight, revealed a much darker pattern. Throughout the 1980s, several young women disappeared or were found murdered across rural western Washington, including Carin Connor, Connie Rolls, Roberta Strasbaugh, and Tracy West. While none of these cases have been definitively linked to Gerard, similarities in victim profiles, locations, and circumstances continue to raise questions. The episode centers on two of the most brutal killings: Elaine “Brooke” McCollum in 1991 and Carol Leighton in 1996. Both women were last seen in Aberdeen before being found along the same remote logging road. Each case involved extreme, rage-driven violence, and despite extensive investigations, both went cold for years. Everything changed in 1999. After surviving a near-fatal claw hammer attack in a dairy barn, Frankie Cochran identified Gerard as her attacker. Her survival became the turning point investigators needed. At the scene, Detective Lane Youmans recognized a chilling similarity between the attack and the earlier murders — a realization that led him to reopen the cold cases. As forensic technology advanced, DNA evidence linked Gerard to both McCollum and Leighton. Yet legal barriers complicated efforts to fully prosecute him. Gerard ultimately entered an Alford plea in Leighton’s murder and is serving time for the attempted murder of Cochran, but questions remain — particularly in McCollum’s case and others that may be connected. The episode also explores the suspicious 1995 house fire that killed Gerard’s former girlfriend Patty Rodriguez, her two sons, and her mother — a tragedy ruled accidental, but one that continues to raise doubts. At its core, this episode is about persistence and memory — the work of a detective who refused to let these cases fade, and the lives of the victims who deserve to be remembered. In Grays Harbor, the past never truly disappears. Sources The Seattle Times (2006). “One-man task force keeps cold cases on front burner.”Seattle Post-Intelligencer / Associated Press (2002). “Police find prisoner’s DNA on 2 murder victims.”The Daily Herald (2002). “DNA evidence revives probe into savage murders.”The Chronicle (2009). “Woman in a Coma After 1999 Beating.”The Lineup (2019). “The Woman Who Was Bludgeoned by a Claw Hammer—And Survived.”HuffPost (2012). “The Devil You Know: Woman Faked Her Death To Survive Boyfriend’s Attack.”Oxygen / The Price of Duty (2018). “Women Murdered on Same Logging Road in Washington.”Archival newspaper records via Newspapers.com (Carin Connor, Connie Rolls, Roberta Strasbaugh, Tracy West, Elaine McCollum)

    25 min
  2. The Deputy in the Road - Carlton Mason Stearns

    EPISODE 2

    The Deputy in the Road - Carlton Mason Stearns

    In this episode of Only Murders on the Harbor, we explore the mysterious death of Deputy Sheriff Carlton Mason Stearns, a cold case that has puzzled Grays Harbor County for nearly a century. Born in 1894 in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, Stearns grew up facing tragedy and loss, including the early deaths of several half-sisters. By his teens, he was working in Hoquiam sawmills, later holding jobs in printing, retail, and trucking. In 1914, he married Edna McNamara and settled in Tacoma, building a life and family while rising through local law enforcement ranks. By 1931, Stearns was Chief Criminal Deputy in Grays Harbor County, involved in enforcing Prohibition-era liquor laws and investigating local crimes. On a March night in 1936, he was sent to the remote Copalis Beach to check on thefts and burglaries at vacation homes. Hours later, his body was found on the highway under circumstances that shocked the community: a gunshot wound to the head, evidence of a struggle, and a missing service revolver. Initial reports labeled the killing a murder, yet decades later, unpublished accounts and family manuscripts suggest a far murkier story. Questions remain about what truly happened that night: Was it a targeted attack? Was Stearns’ death connected to his law enforcement work? Or did darker, more personal forces play a role? The truth may never be fully known, but his story endures as one of the Northwest’s oldest unsolved law enforcement mysteries. Today, Stearns is honored as an officer who died in the line of duty, yet the debate over his final moments continues—making this story part history, part legend. 📚 Sources The Daily Herald, March 10, 1936 — “Deputy Sheriff’s Body is Found in Road at Copalis” https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026097233/?match=1&terms=Carlton%20StearnsThe Olympian, March 18, 1936 — “Award Posted for Deputy’s Slayers” https://www.newspapers.com/image/801902832/?match=1&terms=Carlton%20StearnsThe Tacoma News Tribune, March 11, 1936 — “Mystery in Copalis Death Case Grows” https://www.newspapers.com/image/733396718/?match=1&terms=Carlton%20StearnsOfficer memorial profile: https://behindthebadgefoundation.org/rollcall/stearns-deputy-carlton-m/Anderson, Rick. “The Deputy in the Road” (Seattle Weekly) — historical feature & manuscript analysis

    23 min
  3. The Log Roller of Grays Harbor: William "Billy" Charlie

    EPISODE 3

    The Log Roller of Grays Harbor: William "Billy" Charlie

    In the early 1900s, the rivers of Grays Harbor were more than just waterways—they were the center of work, community, and survival. Among those who lived and worked on the water was William “Billy” Charley, a fisherman, father, and one of the most well-known log rollers in the region. Drawing from newspaper accounts, census records, and Quinault Tribal documentation, this episode explores the life of Billy Charley and the events surrounding his death in 1917. On the night of September 1st, Charley was on a fishing boat in the Hoquiam River with another man. What began as an evening of drinking ended in a physical altercation—one that would later become the focus of a criminal case in Grays Harbor County. The historical record provides a general outline of what happened that night, but leaves important questions unanswered. With no direct witnesses to the final moments and conflicting details in the accounts that followed, the case would rely heavily on testimony and limited evidence. More than a century later, Billy Charley’s story remains preserved only in fragments—newspaper coverage, census entries, and brief mentions in the historical record—offering a glimpse into both his life and a case that was never fully resolved. Sources: The Tacoma Daily News (October 17–18, 1917); Aberdeen Herald (July 7, 1910); Quinault Tribal census records.

    12 min
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About

Only Murders on the Harbor takes you deep into the misty corners of Grays Harbor County, Washington, where rugged coastlines, towering forests, and small-town charm conceal a darker side. Known for its eerie landscapes and quiet, coastal towns, this region is also home to some of the Pacific Northwest's most chilling true crime stories. In each episode, we explore haunting tales of serial killers, unsolved disappearances, and strange, unexplained events that have left a lasting mark on the community. From eerie forests to forgotten backroads, the county’s history is ripe with mystery and menace. With thorough research, gripping storytelling, and interviews with experts, we dive into the crimes and unsolved cases that have shaped Grays Harbor's dark legacy. Whether it’s chilling accounts of justice served or lingering mysteries that still haunt the area, Only Murders on the Harbor unveils the chilling truth behind the most terrifying cases that have made this region a haunting backdrop for crime and intrigue. If you’re ready to uncover the secrets buried in the fog, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Kaydee Mittleider
  • Episodes
    24
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Only Murders on the Harbor 2025
  • Show Website
    Only Murders on the Harbor