Colin Dudley admitted to committing first-degree murder and has been given a sentence of 26 years and eight months in prison.
The TV show ’48 Hours’ featured an episode called ‘Kassanndra’s Secret,’ which narrated the tragic event where 33-year-old Kassanndra Cantrell, who was pregnant at the time, was brutally killed by her ex-boyfriend, Colin Dudley, in August 2020 in Tacoma, Washington.
The program investigates the specifics of the case, such as the inquiry conducted by law enforcement officials and the subsequent trial.
What happened with Kassanndra Cantrell?
In August 2020, a tragic incident took place in Tacoma, Washington, where 33-year-old Kassanndra Cantrell, who was pregnant at the time, was brutally murdered.
Colin Patrick Dudley, who had dated Kassanndra in the past, was involved in the crime.
They first met in 2006 when Kassanndra was 18 years old and worked with Colin on a local production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
Although they dated for a short period, they broke up, and Colin started dating another crew member, which lasted for 14 years until 2020.
Kassanndra’s mother, Marie Smith, alleged that her daughter had reconnected with Colin after the death of his father in 2014.
On August 25, 2020, Kassanndra disappeared after leaving for grocery shopping. Marie suspected that her daughter was meeting someone and not going to the store since she had taken extra time to dress up and shower.
When Kassanndra did not return home or respond to calls and texts, her mother became worried and believed that she was staying with her best friend Alexandra McNary.
However, Alexandra was also concerned as Kassanndra did not show up for her first sonography appointment.
The investigation revealed the mysterious truths
Following Marie’s report of Kassanndra’s disappearance, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation into the matter.
As part of this investigation, detectives spoke with Kassanndra’s friend Alexandra, who provided them with crucial information.
Alexandra informed the detectives that Colin was likely the father of Kassanndra’s unborn child, which was due in March 2021.
She also revealed that Colin had a history of not wanting children, and he had previously told Kassanndra that he would sue for full custody if any of his girlfriends got pregnant and refused to have an abortion.
Despite Colin’s stance on having children, Kassanndra informed him about her pregnancy on August 12, 2020.
During their conversation, Kassanndra offered Colin the option to relinquish his parental rights and not be responsible for child support.
Colin’s response was surprisingly calm, and he promised Kassanndra that they would discuss the matter further.
However, the investigators soon discovered evidence that pointed towards Colin as a suspect in Kassanndra’s disappearance. During the investigation, it was revealed that Colin and Kassanndra had a history together.
The detectives discovered that Colin was allegedly unhappy about Kassanndra’s pregnancy and did not want the baby. As a result, he became a suspect in the case, and he was eventually charged with first-degree murder.
The authorities discovered her car
Kassanndra’s white Mazda was discovered by investigators on August 28, parked on the 200 block of East 25th Street in Tacoma, near a highway overpass close to the Tacoma Dome.
She had been driving the car on the day she was reported missing, and the car keys were found inside the center console.
The detectives noted the presence of a light rail system on the street, and after reviewing the surveillance footage from the rail system, they identified a man wearing a mask and a black fedora walking away from Kassanndra’s car.
Through various surveillance footage, investigators found that the man was driving a pickup truck registered in Colin’s name.
Further investigation revealed that Kassanndra had last communicated with Colin before her disappearance, but Colin denied any recent contact with her and claimed to know nothing about her pregnancy.
Who executed Kassanndra? Where is he now?
Suspicious of his involvement, detectives searched Colin’s house and found his truck, the black hat, and other evidence pointing to his potential involvement in the case.
Despite their efforts, they did not have enough evidence to make an arrest.
Detectives used cadaver dogs to search Colin’s basement, particularly a brown couch that interested the dogs. However, they still did not have enough evidence to arrest Colin.
One of the detectives stated, “He’s guilty of something. But… what is he guilty of?”
The police then seized the black box from Colin’s truck, which proved to be the key piece of evidence.
Using GPS data, investigators determined that Colin’s truck had stopped near a wooded area along Chambers Creek Road W. in University Place, about eight miles from his home.
After scouring the area, the police found Kassanndra’s remains and arrested Colin.
Colin pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in prison in November 2022.
Currently, the 40-year-old is incarcerated at the Clallam Bay Corrections Center.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7t7XZmpqaZpOkunCvzqWgp2WUqrGtsdhmqq2noq58