He Died 2 Days Before DNA Named Him — A 64-Year Murder Mystery Solved

Two days. That is how close investigators came to arresting an 80-year-old man for a double murder committed in 1962. On June 1, 2026, Barton Stebbins died of natural causes. On June 3, DNA results linked him to the twine and cigarette butts preserved from the crime scene. The arrest warrant being prepared would never be served. This episode follows the Clark County Sheriff's Office investigation step by step: the welfare check on June 24, 1962 that found Charles Hale, 71, and Lester McCollum, 67, dead on their Battle Ground, Washington property; the fingerprint on a rearview mirror that waited 55 years for a name; the 2025 interview in Hemet, California, where Stebbins voluntarily gave his DNA; and the second suspect, Walter Stain, identified in October 2026 through a DNA sample provided by his own daughter. Important accuracy note: Stebbins and Stain were identified as suspects by investigators through fingerprint and DNA evidence. Neither man was ever charged, tried or convicted, and Stebbins did not confess. A robbery motive was considered possible by the sheriff's office but was never officially confirmed. All facts in this original retelling are attributed to the Clark County Sheriff's Office and the sources below, and were cross-checked against at least two reliable sources. No script or footage was taken from any other creator. Sources: Forensic Magazine (data from Clark County Sheriff's Office), Oct 19, 2026 — "Cold Case Team Solves 1962 Double Homicide, Agency's Oldest Case": https://www.forensicmag.com/3594-All-... BoomAround, Oct 16, 2026 — "DNA Links Two Dead Men to 1962 Washington Double Murder After 64 Years": https://boomaround.com/2026/10/16/dna... #truecrime #coldcase #dna #washington #documentary #investigation #solved