On April 8, 2000, sixteen-year-old Daryn C. Tolle left a Friday night “Rock & Bowl” dance in Aberdeen, Washington. A harmless tradition among friends turned tragic when he walked home alone and was found brutally stabbed under the Chehalis River bridge. Known as an “all-American” student with a quick sense of humor and no known enemies, Daryn’s death shocked a town that hadn’t seen a teen homicide in over 15 years.

Within days, police arrested two men. Dionicio J. Russell confessed to the stabbing—claiming he didn’t know why he did it—while his friend, Matthew Christian, admitted to helping afterward. In October 2000, Russell was sentenced to 30 years in prison and remains incarcerated today at Monroe Correctional Complex. Christian served one year for aiding the crime.

This episode explores the timeline of that night, the investi ...