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

Episode 6: A Town on Foot

Thirty years after Hazel Martin disappeared and was murdered, questions remain about what happened during the first critical days of the search.

In Episode 6 of Hazel’s Last Hand, we step into those frantic days following Hazel’s disappearance and examine the massive community effort to find her, from the first organized search on May 19, 1996, to the discovery of Hazel’s bedding in the Palouse River and her slippers along Highway 6.

We also take a closer look at the weather, the search dogs, the unusually high river, and the geography surrounding Hazel’s home and the places where evidence was discovered.

But this episode also uncovers something that changes a long-held detail in Hazel’s story.

For nearly three decades, Hazel’s slippers have been described as having been found on a bridge over the Palouse River. But when I spoke with Dave Fraser, the Idaho Department of Transportation employee who actually picked them up in 1996, he remembered something very different.

In This Episode

• The organized search for Hazel beginning Sunday, May 19, 1996
• The weather conditions during the first days of the search
• What the search dogs reportedly did at Hazel's home
• The role of the Palouse River in the search
• The discovery of Hazel's bedding behind Bennett's Lumber Mill
• Why the location of the bedding raises important questions about where it entered the river
• The discovery of Hazel's slippers along Highway 6
• New information about exactly where those slippers were found
• The massive search involving 193 people from across Northern Idaho
• Why searchers were instructed to avoid areas where potential evidence had been discovered
• The role memory can play in a case three decades old
• A potentially significant report of a pickup truck parked behind the Palouse Grange the night Hazel disappeared
• What we know, what we don't know, and what questions remain unanswered

Do You Remember a Pickup Truck Behind the Palouse Grange?

One of the most important requests in this episode involves a reported sighting from the night Hazel disappeared.

A pickup truck was reportedly parked between the three large grain bins behind the Palouse Grange as people were leaving after playing pinochle.

If you were at the Palouse Grange that night or heard someone talking about a truck being there, we want to hear from you.

Have Information About Hazel?

If you have any information about Hazel Martin's disappearance and murder, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact law enforcement. The Latah County Sheriff's Office remains the lead investigative agency.

Latah County Sheriff's Office: 208-882-2216

You can also request to remain anonymous. Tips may also be routed through regional Crime Stoppers programs or anonymous tip lines.

You can also contact Hazel’s Last Hand directly at ⁠hazelslasthand@gmail.com⁠.

Support the Investigation

You can help support efforts to resolve Hazel's murder by contributing to the reward fund through Break the Case.

Coming Up

The investigation doesn't end here.

In upcoming episodes, we'll explore the discovery of Hazel's partial remains and information surrounding a potential first location where her body may have been placed before being moved.

We'll continue separating what is known from what is speculation and examining the evidence, locations, memories, and unanswered questions that remain after thirty years.

We don't need you to solve Hazel's case. We just need you to share what you remember.

Credits

Hazel’s Last Hand is written, produced, and hosted by Kate Colvin.

Sound Design: John and Holly Boswell Research Assistance: Andrea Rourick, Bonnie Scoles, Cretia Bunny, Paula Frazier, Whitney Dixon, and Ellie Helbing Writing Assistance: Brian Potter

A podcast for the community, by the community.

Disclaimer

Hazel’s Last Hand follows an active, unsolved murder case. This investigation is happening in real time. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Episode 5 Summary:

In this episode of Hazel’s Last Hand, host Kate Colvin examines three distinct, high-profile criminal cases from the Inland Northwest spanning 1991 to 2005. While these cases occurred in close geographic proximity to Potlatch, Idaho, and shared uncanny surface details with Hazel's unsolved abduction, this episode systematically dispels lingering community rumors by establishing that none of these perpetrators were involved in Hazel's death. Clearing these red herrings helps sharpen the investigation's focus on the true, localized facts.

Key Topics

• Intro
• • The illusion of safety and distance in the Inland Northwest.
  • How small-town geography can mask real threats operating along shared highway corridors.
• Clearing the Red Herrings
• • Address to the community regarding local history, rumors, and overlapping names/dates.
  • Explicit confirmation: The three cases featured in this episode are completely unrelated to Hazel’s unsolved case.
• The 1991 Potlatch Murder & The Great Escape
• • Victim: Ronald Boone, a local Potlatch area farmer.
  • Perpetrator: Roger Dale Babb and common-law wife Kathy Spencer.
  • The Event: Boone invited Babb and Spencer back to his farmhouse after drinking at a local tavern; Babb shot Boone in his sleep for cash, a wallet, and his truck.
  • The Escape: In September 1997, after being transferred to Basile Detention Center in Louisiana due to Idaho prison overcrowding, Babb and four felons cut through security fences.
  • Resolution: Babb surrendered at a bus station payphone in Beaumont, Texas, three days later, stating, "I'm tired of running."
• "The Other Mrs. Martin" (Pullman, 1996)
• • Victim: Dorothy Martin, vibrant senior living at Stateside Condominiums in Pullman, WA.
  • The Crime: An intruder stole a master key ring from the manager's office and unlocked unit #1, suffocating Dorothy in her bed and stealing a multi-diamond ring.
  • Addressing the Rumors: Comparison between Dorothy Martin and Hazel Martin.
  • The Breakthrough & Hitman Plot: In 2000, police identified home-invader Bradley Steckman (tipped off by Dorothy's house cleaner, Skye Hanson). In prison, Steckman confessed to a separate 1998 murder-for-hire plot involving Barbara Loesch in Post Falls, ID, orchestrated by Hanson and Tina Loesch.
  • Key Differences: Dorothy’s case was a solved inside-job burglary/murder in an apartment complex; Hazel was abducted from a rural property along Highway 6, her remains discovered a year later off Highway 6.
• Joseph Edward Duncan III & The Shadow Over North Idaho
• • Profile: Serial child predator and fugitive operating across the Pacific Northwest.
  • The 2005 Groene Family Murders: Stalked a rural home near Wolf Lodge Bay (Coeur d'Alene) using night-vision goggles. Bludgeoned Brenda Groene, Mark McKenzie, and Slade Groene; abducted 9-year-old Dylan and 8-year-old Shasta.
  • Capture & National Scope: Duncan was spotted by Denny's employees in Coeur d'Alene on July 2, 2005, leading to Shasta's rescue.
  • Confessions: Linked to Seattle cold cases (Sammiejo White, Carmen Cubias) and California murders (Anthony Martinez). Journal entries detailed his calculated travel logs along regional highways.
  • Outcome: Sentenced to federal death row; died in prison on March 28, 2021.
• Conclusion & Reflection
• • A sobering look at how violent offenders pass through rural blacktops and small-town gathering spots.
  • Refocusing the community's effort back onto the distinct truth behind Hazel's disappearance.

Episode Credits

· Written, Produced, and Hosted by: Kate Colvin

· Sound Design: John Boswell and Holly Boswell

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

· Writing Assistance: Brian Potter

· Production Note: A podcast for the community, by the community.

Disclaimer: Hazel's Last Hand covers an active, unsolved murder investigation. All individuals mentioned in connection with open investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

HLH Episode 4: The Anatomy of a Crime Scene

In this episode, we pull back the yellow tape to examine the critical first 24 hours after Hazel vanished. We break down the physical layout of the crime scene, look into the potential entry points used by the intruder, and address the devastating ways the active scene was compromised by early law enforcement assumptions.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• An Important Correction: Kate addresses a timeline error from Episode 3.
• The Crime Scene Visuals: A look at the physical evidence left behind, including a disturbed spare bedroom window, a broken decorative lattice, disturbed bedding, and a mysterious wet spot on Hazel's stripped master mattress.
• The Motives and Small-Town Rumors: We dissect four distinct rumors that circulated through the community after Hazel's disappearance:
• • The Y2K Myth: The false rumor that Hazel hoarded cash in her home safe out of fear of a banking collapse.
  • The "Y" Property Sale: How the sale of commercial property sparked dangerous local theories regarding a massive cash payout or a bitter revenge plot over a failed contract.
  • The Debt Dilemma: The theory that a desperate individual targeted Hazel to clear a personal debt.
  • The Predator Rumor: Evaluating the psychological and forensic reality of a local stalker profile, and why an offender might opportunistically target an isolated, vulnerable home.
• A Compromised Investigation: How the initial police assumption that Hazel simply "wandered off" led to the catastrophic mishandling of physical evidence, including allowing individuals to live inside the active crime scene for days.
• Coming Up Next: A preview of upcoming episodes focusing search and rescue efforts, K9 search efforts, the theory that Hazel's body was temporarily staged at Jerome Creek, a mysterious visit to her husband Shorty, and the family's decision to consult a psychic.

Want to follow along visually? Head to our website and social media channels to view archival photos of Hazel’s home and layout from the time of the investigation.

Connect, Support, and Share

Help us break the thirty-year silence. A reward fund has been established for information leading to the closure of Hazel's case.

• Submit a Tip: If you have any information regarding the disappearance and murder of Hazel Martin, please contact authorities or submit a tip through your local Crime Stoppers.
• Donate to the Reward Fund: Visit Break the Case to securely contribute to the reward fund and help incentivize the truth.

Episode Credits:

• Host, Writer, & Producer: Kate Colvin
• Sound Design: John and Holly Boswell
• Research Assistance: Andrea Rourick, Bonnie Scoles, Cretia Bunny, Paula Frazier, Whitney Dixon, Kent McGreal, Joan Thompson, and Ellie Helbling
• Writing Assistance: Brian Potter

Disclaimer: This podcast follows an active, unsolved murder case. This investigation is happening in real time. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

On May 17, 1996, Hazel Martin’s worst fear came true in her own home. For thirty years, her family has carried a devastating reality: her murder remains unsolved. In this week's episode of Hazel’s Last Hand, host Kate Colvin takes us back to the chilling morning of the crime scene, dissecting the psychological details, the timeline, and the baffling forensic evidence left behind on a bare mattress.

"Thirty years is a long time to keep a secret. But over three decades, things change. Relationships end, alliances splinter, and old loyalties fade... It is time to do the right thing."

- Kate Colvin, Host

Next Week on Hazel’s Last Hand

We dive headfirst into the baffling early days of the investigation and the small-town police blunders that permanently altered the crime scene, including the logic-defying theory that Hazel simply "wandered off" into a torrential storm. Plus, a look into a mysterious visitor Hazel's husband received at the nursing home.

Connect, Support, and Share

Help us break the thirty-year silence. A reward fund has been established for information leading to the closure of Hazel's case.

• Submit a Tip: If you have any information regarding the disappearance and murder of Hazel Martin, please contact authorities or submit a tip through your local Crime Stoppers.
• Donate to the Reward Fund: Visit Break the Case to securely contribute to the reward fund and help incentivize the truth.

Episode Credits:

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

Disclaimer: This podcast follows an active, unsolved murder case. This investigation is happening in real time. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Hazel’s Last Hand — Episode 2: Hazel's Last Day

For thirty years, the official narrative of Hazel Martin’s final hours was set in stone. But in this episode, a sudden break in the case completely upends what we thought we knew about the night of May 17, 1996.

Host Kate Colvin reveals a game-changing new timeline that might finally explain a question that has haunted investigators for decades: If this was a robbery gone wrong, why didn't the intruder just leave?

• The Heart of Hazel: We hear from Hazel’s granddaughter, Paula, and great-granddaughter, Whitney, who share who Hazel truly was beyond the cold case file.

• The Princeton Grange: Step back into 1996 to Hazel's final evening—splitting a sandwich, playing pinochle with dear friends, and winning top female player of the night.

• The New Discovery: A social media tip leads Kate to the family of Alvin and Alice Cowger, Hazel's card partners. Their revelation completely rewrites her journey home.

• Scenario A vs. Scenario B: We break down the physics of that night. Did a generous ride home in a purple sedan accidentally trap an intruder inside Hazel's house?

• Major Case Updates: The Latah County Prosecutor has officially greenlit private cadaver dog searches and advanced DNA testing. Plus, a state cold case investigator is stepping in.

Key Detail to Remember: Hazel entered through the back porch, left her shoes and purse (with her $7 winnings) on her favorite catchall chair, changed in the guest room (where she kept her clothes), and went to sleep in the master bedroom.

This episode’s major step forward was made possible by the community. We are incredibly grateful to Ellie Helbing for her generous contribution to kickstart Hazel's reward fund.

• About Ellie: Ellie is a Potlatch native, mother of four, and a dedicated real estate agent with Latah Realty.

• Work with Ellie: If you are looking for a real estate agent in Latah County who truly cares about this community, connect with Ellie Helbing at Latah Realty.

We highly encourage our listeners to check out The Snake River Killer, a phenomenal true crime podcast covering unsolved cases in the Lewiston-Clarkston area.

• Host: Brandon Schrand

• Stay tuned—Brandon will be joining us on an upcoming episode of Hazel’s Last Hand!

• Written, Produced, and Hosted by: Kate Colvin

• Sound Design: John and Holly Boswell

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

• Writing Assistance: Brian Potter

Disclaimer: This podcast follows an active, unsolved murder investigation in real time. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.