TikTok Suitcase Murder

64-year-old Michael Lee Dudley was found guilty of four charges of second-degree murder. Austin Wenner, 27, and Jessica Lewis, 35, were both killed by Michael Lee Dudley.

On June 19, 2020, two adolescents participating in a TikTok scavenger hunt discovered a washed-up suitcase on the rocky shore of Duwamish Head, West Seattle. 

The children could smell a bad odor from it even though they had no idea what was within. 

As they opened it with a stick, they discovered the human remains of what would subsequently be identified as the bodies of Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner. They also discovered several other fellow TikTokers online.

TikTok Suitcase Murder-Autopsy Report

The dismembered bodies of Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner were recovered in plastic waste bags inside the suitcase, which was discovered in Seattle close to 1100 Alki Avenue Southwest. 

TikTok Suitcase Murder
Prosecutors said Dudley shot dead Jessica Lewis, 35, and her boyfriend Austin Wenner, 27, during an argument over unpaid rent. (Source: DailyMail)

The TikTok video has since been removed and became extremely popular quickly.

The victims, Austin (27) and Jessica (35), were shot about ten days before the children discovered them, and their bodies were mutilated postmortem, according to the medical examiner. 

Jessica was shot seven times, but they only found one gunshot wound on Austin’s body, which is odd.

It’s also odd that after calling the police and having investigators on the case for a day, the youngsters who found the bag kept uploading the footage. 

After repeated requests from the victims’ relatives, TikTok consented to remove the video, raising questions about why the police allowed them to do it.

The Victims: Jessica Lewis And Austin Wenner

Jessica’s four children from a previous relationship were cared for by Austin and Jessica, who had been dating for roughly eight years. 

Everyone who knows them describes them as a strong and content couple who, despite all obstacles, could handle anything life threw at them.

TikTok Suitcase Murder
TikTok users who found the suitcases containing the victims’ dismembered bodies alerted the authorities and posted video online (Source: DailyMail)

Austin was a good-natured, devoted, and outdoorsy man, while Jessica was a shining example of kindness and love.

Unconfirmed rumors claim that Austin was charged with drug possession, although it is known that he was involved in a few misdemeanor cases, one of which involved crossing the street against the light. 

In other words, there was no indication in the couple’s life that somebody would wish to hurt or even kill them.

Michael Lee Dudley

Due to the coincidence that the children discovered the bodies, several people initially hypothesized that TikTok may have been involved in the killings; however, those claims were immediately refuted by police. 

At that point, they noticed a more credible suspect.

Austin and Jessica’s landlord was Michael Lee Dudley, a 62-year-old resident of Burien. 

He allegedly struggled to collect the $1,500 monthly rent from the couple he rented a house. 

A loud altercation was reportedly heard from within the home on June 9.

Neighbors claim that at one time, they overheard a male voice pleading, “Please let me leave, please don’t do this,” when Dudley allegedly wanted the pair to leave. 

They then heard gunfire shortly after. Ten days before the TikTokers discovering the dead, that took place.

The home had recently been cleaned and painted when investigators went there to seek evidence. After investigating the house, they could still find blood and bullet holes. 

Afterward, Austin and Jessica’s second-degree murders were charged against Dudley. He is presently awaiting trial after having a $5 million bail imposed.

Marlys Gordon, who dated Dudley for years and stated she couldn’t believe he would do something like that, claimed that Michael still had a dark side. 

She said that he had assaulted her as part of a violent streak. Gordon said he held a revolver in his hand while hitting her, throwing her to the ground, and hitting her head on the patio.

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