Video: Pinnacle Lake murders being made into documentary

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SEATTLE – His wife and daughter were murdered more than two years ago on a remote Snohomish County trial. Now, Dave Stodden is working on a documentary in the hopes it will jog someone’s memory and help the community heal.

Mary Cooper and daughter Susanna Stodden were killed July 11, 2006 when both were shot in the head during a day hike on the Pinnacle Lake Trail in Mount-Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.

"It’s always a really emotional experience for me,” says Dave Stodden about going up to the scene of the murders.

On Monday, his companions were one of his daughter’s dogs and a crew from Seattle-based Investigative Films.

"The person making this documentary thinks he can help solve the case. I am willing to work with that,” said Stodden.

Soon after the murders, investigators announced they had persons of interest. Thos reports led to no arrests. Stodden himself took two polygraph tests with what he says where inconclusive results.

Courtesy David Stodden

Susanna Stodden, 27, and Mary Cooper, 56.

"I'm not really sure what’s going on,” said Stodden.

His relationship with investigators is intermittent and strained.

"I think they feel like they are stuck,” said Stodden.

He says he has searched for leads, theories and some explanation.

"I guess I don't have any good ideas. I guess I haven't tried to zero in on any one person,” said Stodden. "At first I thought somebody had to go to a lot of work to do this. Maybe that’s the best scenario. Somebody was pretty intent on killing a couple of people."

It’s a theory that’s scared hundreds of hikers and climbers who flock to places like Pinnacle Lake.

"The events of July 11, 2006 affected me deeply as they did many people,” said Mike, the Investigative Films videographer on Monday’s shoot. It was six months before he felt comfortable venturing into the woods alone. He hopes to shed some light on Dave’s experience.

"That is very odd situation to explore his struggles, how he is dealing with this. We are telling his story. That is the point of this documentary,” said Mike.

Snohomish County investigators won’t comment on the case.

Dave Stodden says he continues to be comforted and encouraged by his community in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood.