Tonasket, Washington

Episode 20 / 31 May 2017 / 66 min / full

Jealousy, Meth, Icepicks & Murder

"Headed to the town of Tunascot, Washington, in the north-central part of the state, 20 miles from the Canadian border, in Okanogan County." about 0:04:08

The case: Murder of Michelle Lee Kitterman (March 2009). Read the case file.

The figures, as told in 2017

Population

1,016

Median age

46.7

Median household income

$19,722

Median home value

$119,721

Two-bedroom rent

$726

Cost of living

92

Religious

about 33%

Property crime

▲ almost double

Violent crime

right about average, slightly lower

History, in brief

• Settlers began arriving in the late 1800s; the town got its first post office in 1901. about 0:06:27
• The town was platted in 1910. about 0:06:42
• Tonasket was officially incorporated in 1927. about 0:06:55
• It is named after Chief Tonasket of the Okanogan tribe. about 0:06:59
• It became a hub of agriculture and forestry and is the location of three major fruit storage and processing facilities. about 0:07:55
• It stands on the Okanogan River in north-central Washington, 20 miles from the Canadian border. about 0:08:24
• It is four hours from Seattle and four and a half hours from Tacoma. about 0:05:18

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