In mid-June 2020, three teenagers in Seattle set out for an unexpected adventure, hoping to break the routine and be surprised. They opened an app called Randonautica, which was popular at the time for generating random coordinates to spur exploration. The aim was to become part of a scavenger story where they could feel like the heroes. That day the youths approached a marked point near the waterfront and Pike Place Market. What they found would shock them and everyone watching online: a suitcase. When they opened it, a human body was revealed. The discovery wasn’t fiction. It marked the start of a real investigation. Police later identified the victims as two teenagers who had already been listed as missing for ten days. Investigators learned that the tenants had fallen behind on rent, and the landlord was suspected of harming them during a rent collection dispute.
Left to right in the scene, the landlord Michael Lee appears on the left, alleged to have killed his tenants; the two victims are shown on the right.
“Where are we going?” This line opened a disturbing chain of events that began with TikTok videos and a Seattle location near the coast and the vendor area of Pike Place. The adventure blended with real life as the two apps worked together: a live location game plus social video sharing, creating a narrative that unfolded in real time. The three young people walked forward with a sense of ordinary curiosity, unaware of what lay ahead.
Nearby, a suitcase rested on the rocks, its lid slightly ajar. A dark, heavy object lay inside. The teenagers wondered if there might be money inside and moved closer, their approach cautious and curious. They hesitated, then crept toward the rocks to inspect the contents. When they tried to open the bag, a strong, unfamiliar odor hit them. A plastic garbage bag lay within. They pressed on, filming a new video while they considered calling the authorities to confirm whether a human body might be hidden inside.
Rather than concluding immediately, they posted another clip and announced that they might contact the police to determine if a body or perhaps something edible was involved. The trio called in, sharing a video as evidence and a second update. Law enforcement confirmed the horror: a human body, cut apart, placed inside the suitcase. The moment shifted from routine exploration to a real crime scene that would command national attention.
Screenshots from the teenagers’ TikTok clips circulated widely, showing the evolving reaction to what had happened. The footage went viral before it could be removed to spare viewers from distress. The investigation expanded quickly as neighbors and bystanders contributed information and tips.
start the investigation
After several bags containing human remains were found along the shoreline near 1100 Alki Avenue Southwest, police opened a formal inquiry. Officers arrived after a call about a suspicious bag on the beach, and a second bag emerged in the water. Hours later, investigators confirmed the remains were human. A few days later, another suitcase appeared nearby, deepening the mystery.
The TikTok videos from the teens had already gained enormous traction, amassing millions of views. In an attempt to shield viewers from distress, some content was removed, yet the reach remained astonishing.
Days later, investigators identified the two victims as Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner, ages 35 and 27. Jessica had been reported missing on June 9, ten days before the discovery, and Austin had not been heard from since then.
Jessica Lewis, a 35-year-old mother of four, worked at a center serving people with disabilities. Austin Wenner, aged 27, enjoyed nature and outdoor activities. The couple had been together for nearly nine years and had moved into a new room six months earlier to cope with the quarantine. There were no prior disputes between them and their landlord before the trouble began.
The investigation looked into the tenants’ surroundings. There were early theories, and many clues initially pointed toward the landlord. During the inquiry, it emerged that the young tenants had told acquaintances that the landlord could be volatile. Details showed the possibility of a grim pattern rather than a single incident.
Meanwhile, the coroner determined that both victims had sustained multiple gunshots and blunt-force injuries, followed by dismemberment. It was a stark reminder of the violence that could hide behind apparently ordinary life.
Rent controversy
Officers went to the tenants’ home to question the landlord. Michael opened the door; at the time he was sixty-two and carried a calm, almost Santa Claus-like appearance. He had rented the room to Jessica and Austin, but he claimed no knowledge of them and said he had not seen them since the rent dispute began. The investigators documented a tense scene where the room smelled of cleanliness but showed signs of struggle, including bullet holes, blood traces, and a fresh coat of paint on the walls.
Asked for an explanation, Michael described the blood as a minor cut and avoided discussing bullets. He was later arrested in August 2020 and faced trial for the killings.
“Psychopath”
Beyond the courtroom, Michael’s history painted a dangerous pattern. Witnesses said he could be cruel and controlling, and there were reports of intimidation and violence toward the couple. A relative of Jessica described disturbing episodes, including episodes of fear and coercion, underscoring the seriousness of the case.
The relatives emphasized that the landlord sometimes used threats to scare the couple, even damaging property. The narrative presented a stark portrait of a person capable of extreme violence, reinforcing the perception of a dangerous killer.
“Please, do not do that”
The case moved forward with questions about motive and method. Authorities noted circumstantial evidence and acknowledged that finding a murder weapon could be elusive. Still, prosecutors argued that the crime involved deliberate planning and multiple actors in some capacity. On the night of the incident, police had received reports of gunfire and a voice pleading not to be harmed.
“Defendant dismembered after killing two victims, presumably with the help of others”
The investigators believed the murderer owned the remains at least in part. The evidence suggested the body had been cut with several tools and by more than one person. The prosecutor’s indictment stated that others might have been involved in the dismemberment, given the varied techniques seen in the cuts.
Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner were identified as the victims, and Michael Lee was found guilty and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. The judgment was upheld in higher court, confirming the severity of the crime. The case noted that the landlord claimed the tenants owed rent, asserting he had no other connection to them, yet the events that followed painted a different picture. The timeline shows that he remained in contact with their bodies for several days before the discovery by the teenagers and the ensuing public reaction on social platforms.