Barbara Ann Derry, an 18-year-old female, tragically lost her life on February 11, 1972. She was last seen hitchhiking along State Highway 14 East from Vancouver, Washington. Her body was discovered on March 29, 1972, at the bottom of a silo at the Grist Mill in Northern Clark County, a county park. The circumstances surrounding her death were grim—her body was partially disrobed, missing a bra, and covered with boards and debris.
The cause of death was determined to be a single stab wound to the heart, inflicted with a narrow-bladed instrument. Identification was established through dental records.
Barbara was known to have many male friends and frequently hitchhiked, which may have contributed to the tragic events leading to her death. Investigators linked her murder to Warren Leslie Forrest, a convicted murderer and suspected serial killer. Forrest, born in Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced to two life terms for the murders of other young women in Clark County, Washington, in 1974. He was considered the prime suspect in at least five similar murders and disappearances dating back to 1971. His criminal activities included kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder.
Forrest was arrested on October 2, 1974, after attacking a 20-year-old woman in Portland, Oregon. He lured her into his car under the pretense of a photo shoot, then drove to a city park where he assaulted her, raped her multiple times, and tortured her. He later transported her to Camas, Washington, where he stabbed her six times near Lacamas Lake and attempted to strangle her. Believing she had died, he undressed her and discarded her body in nearby bushes. Miraculously, she regained consciousness two hours later and managed to seek help, ultimately surviving the attack.
Although Forrest was convicted for other murders, Barbara Ann Derry's case remains one of the suspected crimes attributed to him. His pattern of targeting young women, particularly those hitchhiking or in vulnerable situations, aligns with the circumstances of Barbara's disappearance and death. Despite strong suspicions, definitive legal closure regarding her murder has not been documented. Forrest remains incarcerated, serving life sentences for his confirmed crimes.
