Help me figure out this old case - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

canadaman · 09-08-2003, 12:25 AM

I used to watch Unsolved Mysteries all the time; loved the show. In the early run of the show, somewhere between the 2nd to likely 4th season, there was a case that still haunts me to this day, and I was hoping someone could help me find out what happened to the case, and if the guilty party was ever caught.

There was a case about a mysterious abduction/murder in Washington State. A couple was travelling up through the state on their way to Vancouver, I beleive. At some point the authorities then believed they got a ride from a stranger who crossed on the ferry with them, offering them transportation, since they were not travelling by car. They disappeared; were seen on the ferry, but never arrived, and never contacted anyone again. Police found a van parked at a remote cabin, with plastic ties all over the place, and I belive some blood, as well as the bodies of the two...they had been abducted, restrained, raped, and killed. The police had no sweet clue who the perp was...no fingerprints, no eye witness reports, nothing. I think maybe a swatch of torn clothing was all they had.
Soon, the parents of the victims began receiving sick grettuing cards on the anniversary of the crime, explaining all about what happened to their children. It was really disturbing, and when I think about it to this day, it gives me the major wiggins. I believe a line the guy would use in the cards was "Hallelujah bloody jesus" or something to that effect.

As I live on the far east coast of canada, I am as far removed from the crime area as [possible, and this was before the advent of the internet. I was watching a show on TLC that got me thinking of the case again, and I'm trying to find some closure on the whole thing. I searched through the episode guide, but couldn't find anything that rung a bell - the couple may not even have been from the area...may have come from elsewhere.

Some of the details may be incorrect, but I hope this strikes someone else too, and they give me some insight on what has happened since, if possible.

Thanking you in advance.
Brian

Composite Sketch · 09-08-2003, 02:57 AM

I saw this case just a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, there was no update to the case, and the episode was from 2001.

Since I'm in the West, this was a 'close to home' thing. You are right about the murder happening on the West Coast - near Seattle.

canadaman · 09-08-2003, 07:06 AM

Must have been either a repeat of the original show, or a new report to get more info on the case, cause I wasn't watching UM in 2001...haven't watched it since high school, and that was back in 88/91.

Could anyone provide any more info on the case? What were the names of those involved, and when did it occur?

Thanks Composite for responding.

Kane · 09-08-2003, 08:21 AM

That would be the November 1987 murders of Jay Cook and Tanya Van Cuylenborg. UM aired the segment early in the 1989-90 season. I say that segment when it originally aired.

In recent years, it's been speculated that serial killer Robert Lee Yates, Jr. might have been involved in the murders of Cuylenborg and Cook. However, the case remains unsolved.

Here's a link on the case:

http://labyrinth13.com/CuylenborgCook.htm

Hope this helps.

canadaman · 09-08-2003, 09:17 AM

well, it doesn't help insomuch as the killer has not been discovered, but thank you very much for the info and the link. Glad to see people were as disturbed by it as I was, and I hope they manage to nail down who did it soon.

One of those weird things that grabs you and you can't let go of it, no matter how hard you try. I could never explain why I was so shaken by the story (may have had to do with that I watched that episode alone, in a dark house, when I was like 15...), and why I have thought about it occasionally since then.

Thanks once again for the info.

09-08-2003, 12:25 AM	#1
canadaman Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2003 Posts: 5	Help me figure out this old case I used to watch Unsolved Mysteries all the time; loved the show. In the early run of the show, somewhere between the 2nd to likely 4th season, there was a case that still haunts me to this day, and I was hoping someone could help me find out what happened to the case, and if the guilty party was ever caught. There was a case about a mysterious abduction/murder in Washington State. A couple was travelling up through the state on their way to Vancouver, I beleive. At some point the authorities then believed they got a ride from a stranger who crossed on the ferry with them, offering them transportation, since they were not travelling by car. They disappeared; were seen on the ferry, but never arrived, and never contacted anyone again. Police found a van parked at a remote cabin, with plastic ties all over the place, and I belive some blood, as well as the bodies of the two...they had been abducted, restrained, raped, and killed. The police had no sweet clue who the perp was...no fingerprints, no eye witness reports, nothing. I think maybe a swatch of torn clothing was all they had. Soon, the parents of the victims began receiving sick grettuing cards on the anniversary of the crime, explaining all about what happened to their children. It was really disturbing, and when I think about it to this day, it gives me the major wiggins. I believe a line the guy would use in the cards was "Hallelujah bloody jesus" or something to that effect. As I live on the far east coast of canada, I am as far removed from the crime area as [possible, and this was before the advent of the internet. I was watching a show on TLC that got me thinking of the case again, and I'm trying to find some closure on the whole thing. I searched through the episode guide, but couldn't find anything that rung a bell - the couple may not even have been from the area...may have come from elsewhere. Some of the details may be incorrect, but I hope this strikes someone else too, and they give me some insight on what has happened since, if possible. Thanking you in advance. Brian

09-08-2003, 02:57 AM	#2
Composite Sketch Staring at you Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 26, 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 304	I saw this case just a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, there was no update to the case, and the episode was from 2001. Since I'm in the West, this was a 'close to home' thing. You are right about the murder happening on the West Coast - near Seattle.

09-08-2003, 07:06 AM	#3
canadaman Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2003 Posts: 5	Must have been either a repeat of the original show, or a new report to get more info on the case, cause I wasn't watching UM in 2001...haven't watched it since high school, and that was back in 88/91. Could anyone provide any more info on the case? What were the names of those involved, and when did it occur? Thanks Composite for responding.

09-08-2003, 08:21 AM	#4
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	That would be the November 1987 murders of Jay Cook and Tanya Van Cuylenborg. UM aired the segment early in the 1989-90 season. I say that segment when it originally aired. In recent years, it's been speculated that serial killer Robert Lee Yates, Jr. might have been involved in the murders of Cuylenborg and Cook. However, the case remains unsolved. Here's a link on the case: http://labyrinth13.com/CuylenborgCook.htm Hope this helps.

09-08-2003, 09:17 AM	#5
canadaman Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2003 Posts: 5	well, it doesn't help insomuch as the killer has not been discovered, but thank you very much for the info and the link. Glad to see people were as disturbed by it as I was, and I hope they manage to nail down who did it soon. One of those weird things that grabs you and you can't let go of it, no matter how hard you try. I could never explain why I was so shaken by the story (may have had to do with that I watched that episode alone, in a dark house, when I was like 15...), and why I have thought about it occasionally since then. Thanks once again for the info.