Paul Bieker was arrested on June 15, 2021, for the March 2003, rape and kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl in McCleary, Washington. The girl was kidnapped from her home, sexually assaulted and then abandoned in her own vehicle.
A DNA profile of the suspect was generated from a sexual assault kit taken at the hospital.
There is currently no information on who performed the FGG investigation. Police made the initial confirmation by surreptitiously sampling an item discarded by Bieker.
Bieker lived close to the victim at the time of the 2003 attack. Police are also investigating Bieker for the June 26, 2009, rape and murder of 10-year-old Lindsey Baum, who was also abducted and raped in McLeary. No charges have been filed in that case at the time of writing.
Bieker was found guilty of first-degree rape and kidnapping by a jury in Grays Harbor County on June 3, 2022. Deliberate cruelty was found to be an aggravating factor. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Gebhardt reported that the Washington State Office of the Attorney General has dedicated almost $300,000 to the genetic genealogy program, with about $120,000 dedicated to cases. About 23 cases had been solved as of mid-2022.
Police continue to investigate Bieker for involvement in similar crimes, including the June 26, 2009 rape and murder of 10-year-old Lindsey Baum in McLeary.
Sources:
Chronicle Staff. “Arrest Made in 2003 Grays Harbor County Rape, Kidnapping; Investigators Eye Lindsey Baum Case.” The Chronicle, June 16, 2021. Accessed June 20, 2021. https://www.chronline.com/stories/arrest-made-in-2003-grays-harbor-county-rape-kidnapping-investigators-eye-lindsey-baum-case,267708.
Gebhardt, Erika. “Paul James Bieker Sentenced to 30 Years in State Prison for Rape.” Daily World, July 12, 2022. Accessed May 7, 2023. https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/paul-james-bieke-sentenced-to-30-years-in-state-prison-for-rape/.
King 5 Staff. “Following Arrest in 2003 Cold Case, Detectives Looking at Potential Connection to Lindsey Baum Kidnapping.” King 5 News NBC, June 16, 2021. Accessed June 20, 2021. https://www.king5.com/article/news/crime/grays-harbor-mccleary-lindsey-baum-cold-case-investigation-suspect/281-67744c4c-9626-4770-b6b8-8b788d0252fd.
KOMO News Staff. “Paul Bieker Found Guilty in 2003 Rape of McCleary Teen.” KOMO News, June 4, 2022. Accessed June 8, 2022. https://komonews.com/news/local/paul-bieker-found-guilty-in-2003-rape-of-mccleary-teen.
Sederstrom, Jill. “Authorities Investigating Whether Man Arrested in Cold Case Rape Could Have Been Involved in Young Girl’s Murder.” Oxygen, June 17, 2021. Accessed June 20, 2021. https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/paul-bieker-suspect-in-2003-rape-investigated-for-murder-of-lindsay-baum.