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Child abduction team activated for 1986 Tacoma murders

The team is being launched as if the deaths of Jennifer Bastian and Michella Welch just occurred.

<p>Jennifer Bastian and Michella Welch. (Credit: Tacoma Police Department)</p>

Tacoma police announced Wednesday they are re-launching the investigations into the 1986 rapes and murders of Jennifer Bastian and Michella Welch.

The department is activating its Child Abduction Response Team as if the deaths of Bastian and Welch had just occurred. The FBI, Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Department of Emergency Management and South Sound 911 will all take part in the event.

Police announced last week they were searching for two suspects in the killings. For three decades it was believed one person killed both of the girls.

Using advanced technology, police on Wednesday released two new sketches of the possible killers.

"This happened in broad daylight with probably hundreds of witnesses who didn't know they were witnesses," said Tacoma Police Department spokeswoman Loretta Cool.

Both of the girls went missing from public parks in 1986. 12-year-old Michella Welch was at Puget Park on March 26. She was with her two sisters and went missing before 1 p.m. Her body was found about 24 hours later.

Jennifer Bastian, 13, rode her bike to Point Defiance Park on August 4, 1986. She was seen by several people as late as 6 p.m, but never returned home. Her body was found August 28.

Police recently announced they have been continuing to investigate new tips, interview witnesses, and possible suspects to obtain any new leads. Now they are officially relaunching the investigations from three decades ago hoping that investigators will get fresh leads from the public.

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