Naman Shrestha
In June 2020, Austin Wenner and Jessica Lewis suddenly disappeared until their remains were found scattered in different water bodies across Seattle, Washington. The tragic killings sent shockwaves throughout the entire community, amplified by the viral TikTok videos made by the teenagers who came across the remains inside a suitcase. The documentary titled ‘The Blue Room’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Bodies in the Water’ delves deep into the mysterious murders of the couple, with the help of insightful interviews with the deceased’s loved ones and the officials who helped solve the case.
Austin Wenner and Jessica Lewis’ Remains Washed Up on the Shore of Alki Beach
In 1992, Charleen Kriens was blessed with Austin Dean “Cash” Wenner, who arrived in her life as a little bundle of joy. With a passion for the outdoors and swimming, Austin spent most of his time on the lakes and on boats. As he grew up, he also developed a passion for trucks, campfires, and country music. Since he loved the outdoors, one of his first jobs was landscaping for his neighbors. Unfortunately, he turned to drugs when he went through tough times after his cousin and grandmother passed away. Around the same time, he was also going through a divorce. In the early 2010s, Austin crossed paths with the love of his life, Jessica Lewis, when she held a little garage sale in Auburn. As they got to talking, sparks flew, and they began dating.
Born on August 28, 1984, in Maple Valley, Jessica grew up in the countryside and loved horses. She was employed at Laura’s Adult Family Home, an assisted living facility, where she cared for elderly adults with developmental disabilities. The mother of four also allegedly struggled with drug abuse. Although she and Austin went through hard times, they always managed to stick together. In June 2020, when Austin’s mother couldn’t reach him or Jessica, she and other loved ones became concerned. A couple of weeks after their sudden disappearance, on June 19, 2020, a group of teenage friends came across a suitcase on the shore of Alki Beach, in the 1100 block of Alki Avenue Southwest in Seattle, Washington, while playing the app Randonautica.
Inside, they found a black trash bag containing human remains. As the authorities arrived at the beach, they discovered dismembered human remains inside the suitcase. Upon inspecting a duffel bag still in the water nearby, they discovered a human foot inside. Three days later, a local Seattle resident, Chris Watkins, reported finding another suitcase in the Duwamish River. The police inspected the suitcase and found more human remains inside: two arms and two legs. Using the method of degloving, the medical examiner determined that the remains belonged to 27-year-old Austin Wenner and 35-year-old Jessica Lewis. The autopsy revealed that Jessica died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Austin died from a gunshot wound to the torso. Thus, without delay, the police launched an investigation.
The Killer Kept Close Tabs on Austin Wenner and Jessica Lewis
As part of the investigation, the detectives interviewed the family members and friends of Austin Wenner and Jessica Lewis to find out more about the circumstances surrounding their tragic demise. Austin’s mother told the police that they were having issues with a Samoan gang in the Burien area over the use or theft of a credit card. She claimed Austin told her that he had found a bullet with his name on it in his mailbox. Several witnesses indicated that a gang member named Big Wren could be responsible for the homicides. However, it turned out to be a dead end as he was behind bars at the time of the crime. The investigation then led the detectives to Austin and Jessica’s landlord, Michael Lee Dudley, with whom they had been staying since December 2019.
He owned a property, where he lived, but gave the couple “the blue room” on rent, while he rented out “the yellow room” as an Airbnb. As per reports, the couple met Michael through Austin’s aunt, Rennee. After living on his property for a while, Austin and Jessica felt something was off about him and planned to move out soon. It is alleged that they heard strange sounds in the house’s vents and that Michael had been installing trackers on the couple’s car. Their friends also claimed that the landowner had allegedly threatened them on multiple occasions. Upon delving deeper, the detectives learned that Michael’s neighbor placed a 911 call on the evening of June 9, 2020, reporting that they heard gunshots and someone yelling.
The Perpetrator Claimed Innocence When the Authorities Questioned Him
Since they lacked sufficient evidence, the detectives couldn’t enter Michael’s property to search. However, the investigators knew that Michael didn’t have a friendly relationship with Austin and Jessica, as he was trying to apply for a restraining order against them, claiming that Austin had threatened him with a gun and was refusing to leave his home. On June 22, 2020, a break in the case came when a sex worker in custody told the authorities that she had information about the killings of Austin and Jessica. She claimed that she met Michael on June 9 and took a shower at his house, where she noticed a pile of clothing and what seemed like dead bodies in the blue room. She even took photos of furniture that had bullet holes. Armed with sufficient evidence, the police obtained a search warrant for Michael’s house and searched it thoroughly.
They came across holes in the wall and blood smears on the bed frame. During his interview, he denied having any involvement in the killings. He also claimed he had an amicable relationship with the couple, which contradicted his attempt to obtain a restraining order against them. Upon going through Jessica’s cell phone records, they learned that her phone went dead at 7:08 pm on June 9, just a few minutes before Michael’s neighbor called 911. The detectives also went through Michael’s cell phone records, which revealed that he had driven to Seattle, Washington, on June 18, 2020, and was near both the locations where the remains were found. Finally, based on circumstantial evidence, Michael was arrested on August 19, 2020, and charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
Michael Lee Dudley is Currently Incarcerated at a Washington Prison
More than two years after his arrest, Michael Lee Dudley stood trial on December 8, 2022. The prosecution accused the defendant of killing Austin Wenner and Jessica Lewis before dismembering their remains and disposing of them in different bodies of water across Seattle, Washington. The court documents stated, “This process would have taken a lot of time and effort and his willingness to take these extreme steps demonstrates the threat he poses to the community.” In the end, he was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder, along with firearm allegations.
Following the conviction, Austin’s mother, Charleen Kriens, stated, “The world is a safer place without Michael Dudley in it. Everybody can rest easy tonight because of that.” A few months later, on April 7, 2023, Michael’s sentencing hearing took place. Charleen took the stand and stated, “On June 9th, Michael Dudley made the choice to kill, dismember and dispose of my son and Jessica’s bodies, changing our lives forever. He deserves to spend the rest of his life without freedom — without free will. Please keep our communities, our family, our friends, our children and our pets safe from Michael Dudley.” Ultimately, the killer was sentenced to 46 years in prison. As of today, 68-year-old Michael Lee Dudley is serving his sentence at Airway Heights Corrections Center in Spokane County, Washington.
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