BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Mary Stavik, 82, took to the witness stand Monday to testify in the murder trial of her daughter, Mandy.
The 18-year-old Central Washington University student was home for Thanksgiving weekend in 1989 when she disappeared after going out for a jog.
Mary Stavik got the news she had been dreading three days after her daughter’s disappearance.
"It may have been the sheriff who came to my door and told me they found her body," said Mary Stavik, visibly shaken.
The search for Mandy Stavik’s killer ran cold for decades. A break in the case came in 2017 when detectives were able to match DNA found at the crime scene to Timothy Bass, a neighbor who lived down the street.
Prosecutors allege Bass raped and killed the teen, but Bass’ lawyers said the DNA turned up because the two had consensual sex. On Monday, prosecutors tried to cast doubt on that claim with several witnesses, including Mary Stavik who said the two has little to no relationship at all.
Authorities said Bass initially denied seeing Mandy Stavik on the day she disappeared and concocted the sexual relationship story after being confronted with the DNA evidence. Prosecutor Dave McEachran said in opening statements last Friday that Bass asked his mother and brother to lie for him and help establish an alibi.
Family friend Brad Gorum testified when Mandy Stavik went missing Bass was conspicuously absent from search parties and Mandy's memorial service.
The trial is expected to last about three weeks.