WHITMAN COUNTY-- Newly released warrants show that Whitman County investigators are finding inconsistencies in Kristen Grindley’s boyfriend’s statements about what led up to her injuries.
The most serious inconsistency is why Kristen Grindley’s boyfriend was driving the same rural Pullman Road that Grindley was found lying in the middle of, but he says she was never with him in the truck that night.
The only thing investigators know for certain is that 23-year-old Grindley was found on Pullman-Albion Road, laying in a pool of her own blood, and that she was left for dead.
She is making progress at a Spokane rehabilitation center with her family by her side.
Her boyfriend, Richard Pasma, is Whitman County investigator’s only person of interest.
According to court documents, Pasma told investigators the two had been fighting the entire day of November 11th.
Investigators worry Grindley might not remember that day or even that week.
Right now investigators say they aren’t pushing the issue either.
Pasma says he went for a drive to clear his head late that night, and locked the doors so Grindley couldn’t follow.
The last time he says he saw her was when she was in the doorway of their house.
He then admits driving on the exact road Grindley was found on, noticed emergency vehicle lights, but kept driving.
When Grindley didn’t return to their home even later that night, he says he drove around looking for her on campus but went back to bed when he couldn’t find her.
Whitman County Sheriff Bret Meyers questioned Pasma that night about the case.
Sheriff Meyers asked Pasma how it was possible not to notice Grindley in the middle of the road, and why Pasma kept driving. At that point, Pasma asked for a lawyer.
Sheriff Meyers says his office has put a lot of time and energy into this case and he doesn’t think they could have worked the case any harder.
Investigators have collected cell phones from the couple, along with Pasma’s clothing and samples from his truck.
Evidence lab technicians think scuff marks on Grindley’s clothing may match Pasma’s truck, which the sheriff said could also prove that someone had to be aware she was in the truck but kept going.
It could be at least another month before the forensic evidence comes back.
