Murder in Moclips

                                                            


On one of our recent trips to Moclips Gaynor and I were talking to a local resident who told us two teenage girls had been murdered on the beach. Later that night we went out on the beach and took some video. All the video produced was darkness, but there was some audio of what I believe were spirits talking and a lone orb that danced around us. On the audio one of the spirits, a female spirit said,  "Two girls were camped here."

Female spirit voice

Upon our return I did some research on the two girls. I discovered a horrific night of terror for two 19-year-old teenagers named Tina Jacobsen and Gael Burton on April 21, 1975.

 Two young teenage girls were hitchhiking near Moclips Washington. They were picked up by a man named William Batten. William took the girls to Moclips where he dropped them off along the river. The girls followed the river out near where the river meets the ocean and had plans to camp the night there. William returned later that night armed with a knife. William tied the two girls up, but when one of the girls screamed William stabbed her repeatedly. In his confession he said he then knew he couldn't allow the other to live and he repeatedly stabbed her. As he was leaving he heard her moan and went back and again repeatedly stabbed her. He returned to his parents house who lived near by, washed the knife off and put it back in the drawer. This indicates premeditated murder. Paper found at the crime scene bare the name William C. Batten. Two days later William was arrested and he confessed to the crime.

On a visit prior to knowing about the murders I was walking along the river with Abbey. It was around 5am. Gaynor was back in our room asleep. As I was walking I noticed what appeared to be a face in a log. A fantastic face. A face carved into the log by natural nature. A combination of winter storms, blowing sand, wind, rain, hail, insects, birds, and wood rot all contributed to the magical face that I named the Moclips Goddess. 

The picture below shows her from the exact distance when I first noticed her.

I walked up amongst the tall grass to the face below.


The right eye is perfect along with the nose. Her eye has black encircling it. Her mouth appears to be covered as if she is wearing some kind of head covering that may produce a mouth once nature removes the covering. There appears to be an arm going up the side of her heard. This may also be the foot of the dog that is attached to her head. Can you see the dog? The log that runs off behind her is flat as if it is a wing. It's incredible. A true natural treasure.

The information given as to the exact location of the murders wasn't precise, or precise enough for me. I wanted the exact spot. I've combed this area well so any type of landmark given should reference me to the exact location or real close. I contacted Gray's Harbor County Sheriff's department asking if they could give me additional information other than what was reported in newspaper articles that were written. They provided a map.

This is Moclips Washington in 1975. The first road after you cross the bridge is Railroad Ave. Moclips Washington in 1913 was the last destination for the Northern Pacific Railroad thus a street named Railroad. Back to back century storms in 1911 and 1913 ended this destination only remnants now remain. Railroad ave leads to the crime scene.

In 1978 the Hi-Tide resort was built on the spot of the landfill. It's where we stay mere yards away from where Tina and Gael were murdered. Also, it is exactly where the Goddess is. I sent the map to a local resident that I know and he too believes it is the exact spot. However, the Goddess rests just off the river, but just about 15 yards north of her there is kind of a bluff that requires you climb up a small flight of stairs protecting anyone from hi-tide. I believe that is where the crime was committed. It only makes sense that they wouldn't camp along the river to avoid any risk of the tide coming in. I've searched my photos and don't seem to have a picture of it but I will update this article showing the raised bluff.

Over the 20 years that Gaynor and I have been coming to Moclips we have a favorite spot. A secluded` spot where we can prop up our lounge chair, enjoy a bottle of wine, view the magnificent beauty, and watch Abbey have the time of her life playing in the water. It's the exact spot where the Goddess is and the girls were murdered.

For me, this all synch's up in a kind of magical way that leads to a tragic story. After discovering the Goddess I couldn't get her out of my mind. A kind of haunting and it did have a negative vibe to it. She doesn't appear too happy. I researched Egyptian goddess's and compared photos. The similarities are stunning. She rests staring at what remains of the Pacific Northern Railroad where it crossed the river, also the exact location where Tina Jacobsen and Gael Burton were murdered. Coincidence?

Last night Gaynor was talking to me. My mind was somewhere else. I was thinking of Tina and Gael. They weren't that much older than me. I was 14-years-old. I thought about the music they would have been listening to and that I was listening to the same at that time. I wondered if there was a song that fit them, their life, their friendship and their ending. I stopped Gaynor from talking and said, "The girls need a song." She said, "What?" I said, "Tina and Gael. What's their song? Let's go find it." We came up on my computer and searched top 100 songs in 1975. We looked through it and didn't see anything that fit. I knew that whatever was being played in 1974 would still be playing in 1975 and looked there. We found their song.

 We have plans to return in a few weeks to memorialize the two young girls whose life was taken away so tragically. On a sand dollar I painted the words that were captured on the beach. On the back of it the names of the girls. It will remain a part of my garden appropriately named, Ghost Gardens.


 Prisoner number #287380 William C. Batten remains in prison in Tumwater Washington at the Washington Corrections Center. This crime will never be corrected only remembered.

Update to this post. It occurred to me that on our second trip to Moclips 4-23-18 it was just two days after the murders. Tina and Gael were killed on 4-21-75, but their bodies weren't discovered for two days 4-23-75. The synchronistic events roll on.