Episode Title: Episode 9 — A Call for Information, A Call for Justice

In this episode, we consolidate every public call for information issued since the start of our investigation. Relationships, circumstances, and loyalties change over thirty years, and a single detail from your memory could provide the breakthrough Hazel’s family has waited decades to see. From visitor logs in Pullman to suspicious vehicles along the Palouse River, we review the critical locations, key timelines, and unreported incidents that could hold the key to solving Hazel’s case.

• Pullman Care Visitors (May 1996): Seeking anyone who worked at Pullman Care (now Three Creeks Post Acute) in Pullman, WA, who remembers any visitors seen interacting with Hazel’s husband, Alvin "Shorty" Martin, around May 1996.

• Princeton Grange Hall Sighting: Looking for reports of any vehicle parked near or between the three grain bins behind the old Princeton Grange Hall on the evening of Friday, May 17, 1996.

• Jerome Creek & The Backroads Network: Seeking information on who was intimately familiar with Jerome Creek and the backroad routes surrounding Old River Road and White Pine Drive in May 1996. Did you see vehicles pulled off near the Palouse River between Bennett’s Lumber Mill and the intersection of Highway 6 and Old River Road late May 17 or early May 18, 1996?

• Unreported or Related Criminal Activity: Did you experience or witness suspicious activity, robberies, stalking, or break-ins in Latah County in the months leading up to or following Hazel’s disappearance?

No detail is too small or insignificant. If you have any information:

• Direct Email: hazelslasthand@gmail.com

• Law Enforcement: Contact Latah County Sheriff's Office directly.

• Anonymous Tips (Crime Stoppers of Idaho): Submit anonymous tips online or via phone through Crime Stoppers of Idaho.

  Note: Qualifying tips routed through Crime Stoppers of Idaho are eligible for BOTH Crime Stoppers' reward and the Hazel Martin Reward Fund.

• Donate to the Reward Fund: 100% of all public contributions go directly toward the reward for information leading to the resolution of Hazel’s case. Visit the Break the Case Donation Link and select “Hazel Martin Reward Fund” from the dropdown menu.

• Inaugural Sponsor: Special thanks to Ellie Helbling at Latah Realty for supporting this mission as our inaugural sponsor and research assistant. Looking for a real estate agent in Latah County? Contact Ellie at Latah Realty.

• Special Thanks: Thank you to Casey at Crime Stoppers of Idaho and Break the Case for partnering with us to ensure safe, secure avenues for tipsters.

• Host, Writer & Producer: Kate Colvin

• Sound Design: John and Holly Boswell

• Research Assistance: Andrea Rourick, Bonnie Scoles, Cretia Bunny, Paula Frazier, Whitney Dixon, and Ellie Helbling

• Writing Assistance: Brian Potter

A podcast for the community, by the community.

Disclaimer: Hazel's Last Hand is an investigation conducted in real time. All individuals referenced are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Episode SummaryKey Calls for InformationHow to Submit Tips & Claim RewardsHazel Martin Reward Fund & SponsorshipCredits & Show Info

Episode Overview

In this pivotal and emotionally heavy episode, host Kate Colvin shares newly disclosed details and geographic context regarding the ongoing 1996 investigation into the murder of Hazel. Kate breaks down the physical evidence—including Hazel's fuzzy pink slippers and the recovery of her bedding—and applies aerodynamic physics and fluid dynamics to reconstruct the timeline and suspect movement. She also reveals crucial information about an initial, temporary disposal site near Jerome Creek and a suspicious vehicle sighting during early air search efforts.

• The Slippers & Physics of the Pickup Truck:

  • Hazel's slippers (pink, snug-fitting, with heel wraps and non-slip grippers) were found along Highway 6 near the Old River Road intersection on the first morning of search-and-rescue efforts.

  • Kate explains why the slippers likely did not fall off during a slow turn, but rather blew out of an open pickup truck bed due to aerodynamic drag, lift forces, and trapped vortices as the vehicle accelerated onto the highway.

• The Palouse River & Discarded Bedding:

  • Bedding was originally found tangled near Bennett’s Lumber Mill.

  • Analyzing river fluid dynamics during the violent February 1996 Pineapple Express flood, Kate demonstrates why saturated fabrics would quickly sink, catch on undertows, or snag on underwater hazards (such as submerged cattle fencing wire).

  • Re-evaluating the entry point, Kate posits the bedding was likely thrown off the bridge near O’Reilly Road / Boone’s Swimming Hole—much closer to where it was discovered—rather than miles upstream.

• Jerome Creek (The Initial Disposal Location):

  • Critical Disclosure: Evidence confirms Hazel’s body was temporarily placed in an area off Jerome Creek before later being moved to the White Pine Drive location where partial remains were later recovered.

  • Jerome Creek’s upper elevation (around 2,585+ feet) was remote, rugged, and heavily snowcapped in May 1996. Accessing this specific spot required intimate, local knowledge of backroads, logging routes, or wood-cutting sites.

• The Aerial Search Sighting:

  • During low-visibility aerial searches on the Sunday following Hazel's disappearance, a plane spotter observed a dark, single-cab pickup truck parked near the Jerome Creek location.

  • Spotters noted 2 to 3 men running for cover as the aircraft circled. By the time ground teams could reach the terrain, the truck was gone.

  • Kate shares her hypothesis: the perpetrators were spooked into moving Hazel's body after the slippers and bedding were discovered so quickly.

• Who was intimately familiar with the Jerome Creek logging routes, wood-cutting areas, and off-roading trails in May 1996?

• Who knew the backroads connecting Jerome Creek to White Pine Drive without needing to travel main stretches of Highway 6?

• Did you see any suspicious vehicles pulled off near the Palouse River between Bennett’s Lumber Mill and Old River Road late Friday, May 17, 1996, or early Saturday, May 18, 1996?

• Active Investigation: Hazel’s case remains an active homicide investigation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

• Digitization Progress: Family members recently met with the lead detective. Law enforcement has received the first digitized box of case files, which are undergoing page-by-page verification against physical records.

If you have any information—no matter how small—regarding the disappearance of Hazel, suspicious vehicle sightings, or individuals familiar with Jerome Creek in 1996, please submit a tip:

• Latah County Sheriff's Office: Contact directly via official law enforcement channels.

• Crime Stoppers of Idaho: Anonymous tips can be submitted online or via phone (see the FAQ page at HazelsLastHand.com for direct links).

• Host, Writer, & Producer: Kate Colvin

• Sound Design: John Boswell & Holly Boswell

• Research Assistance: Andrea Rourick, Bonnie Scoles, Cretia Bunny, Paula Frazier, Whitney Dixon, & Ellie Helbing

• Writing Assistance: Brian Potter

Episode 7: Crime Stoppers of Idaho

When an investigation stalls, fear of retaliation often keeps vital witnesses silent, especially in close-knit communities. In this episode, host Kate Colvin sits down with Casey from Crime Stoppers of Idaho to break down how this independent non-profit bridges the gap between the public and law enforcement without compromising safety.

Key Topics Covered

• Mission & Independence: Why Crime Stoppers operates as an independent non-profit rather than a police department branch, and its vital role in rural Idaho communities.
• Guaranteed Anonymity: The technology and procedures used to strip away identifying data (like IP addresses and phone numbers) to ensure tipsters remain entirely untraceable.
• The Tip Lifecycle & Rewards: How anonymous tips reach investigators and how tipsters securely collect cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or felony charge.
• Community Involvement: How the public can support the organization through tax-deductible donations, volunteering, and local advocacy.

Special Note on Hazel’s Case: If a tip submitted to Crime Stoppers leads to the closure of Hazel’s case, the tipster will receive both the Crime Stoppers cash reward and the Hazel’s Last Hand podcast reward fund, fully processed with guaranteed anonymity.

How to Submit an Anonymous Tip

• Call: 208-343-COPS (2677)
• Web: 343cops.com
• Mobile App: Download the free P3 Tips app

Episode Credits

• Host & Producer: Kate Colvin
• Sound Design: John and Holly Boswell
• Research Assistance: Andrea Rourick, Bonnie Scoles, Cretia Bunny, Paula Frazier, Whitney Dixon, Ellie Helbing.
• Writing Assistance: Brian Potter