Enumclaw man arrested in 2003 cold case; possible connection to Lindsey Baum disappearance

GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY, Wash — Deputies arrested an Enumclaw man Tuesday in a kidnapping and rape cold case from 2003.

In March 2003, the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office investigated a kidnapping and rape case that started on Church Road in McCleary, Wash.

Investigators said a 17-year-old girl was abducted as she was driving home. The suspect tied her up, loaded her in her car and took her to an unknown location and sexually assaulted her.

After the teen was sexually assaulted, the suspect drove her to a spot near McCleary and left her in the car, deputies said.

The teen was able to free herself and she got home and reported the attack to her dad, who called 911 immediately.

Deputies said she went to the hospital to be examined and investigators collected evidence and a DNA profile was obtained for the suspect in the sexual assault.

After an exhaustive investigation was done, investigators couldn’t identify a suspect.

“The suspect’s DNA profile was entered into the nationwide criminal database and it was not linked to a known person in the database,” deputies said.

An arrest warrant was obtained by the Grays Harbor Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 2010, based on the DNA profile developed from the sample obtained from the victim.

In December of 2020, Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office Chief Darrin Wallace sent the DNA evidence to a lab for genealogy testing.

According to investigators, testing revealed a short list of possible suspects that were believed to be related to the source of the suspect DNA.

Detectives learned a man named Paul Beiker lived in McCleary in 2003 at a home near the victim’s house.

“They also were able to identify more circumstantial evidence that linked Beiker to the crime,” deputies said.

Detectives obtained his DNA from a discarded item and the DNA was sent to the Washington State Patrol Crime lab.

Investigators said the DNA was a match of the suspect in the 2003 sexual assault.

On Tuesday, investigators contacted Beiker and took him into custody.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Due to the circumstances of the case, investigators are also looking into the kidnapping and murder case of Lindsey Baum, who disappeared on Jun. 26, 2009 in McCleary.

Baum’s remains were found in 2017 in Kittitas County. The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Lindsey Baum tip line 360-964-1799 or email baumtips@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.

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