Dale Wayne Eaton: Prime Suspect in the Great Basin Murders?

In the desolate landscapes of the Rocky Mountain states, few names evoke as much dread as Dale Wayne Eaton. Convicted for the brutal 1988 murder of Lisa Marie Kimmell, Eaton is a central figure in the Great Basin Murders, a series of unsolved homicides that haunt Nevada, Wyoming, and beyond. His confirmed crimes paint a portrait of a violent predator, while suspicions linger that he may be responsible for many more deaths, including the 1972 Starr Valley Jane Doe case. This post dives deep into Eaton’s criminal history, convictions, suspected crimes, and current whereabouts, inviting you to join Dark Dialogue: Rocky Mountain Reckoning in unraveling these chilling mysteries. 

Confirmed Crimes and Convictions 

Dale Wayne Eaton, born in 1945, has a documented history of violent offenses spanning decades. His most notorious crime is the 1988 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Lisa Marie Kimmell, but his criminal record includes earlier assaults and other felonies. Below is a comprehensive overview of his confirmed crimes and legal outcomes, drawn from court records and news reports. 

1. Lisa Marie Kimmell Murder (1988, Wyoming)

• Crime Details: On March 25, 1988, 18-year-old Lisa Marie Kimmell vanished while driving from Denver, Colorado, to Billings, Montana, in her Honda CRX with a distinctive “LIL MISS” license plate. Her body was found on April 2, 1988, in the North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming, by a fisherman. She had been bludgeoned, stabbed, and raped, with evidence suggesting she was killed on a nearby bridge before being thrown into the water. 

• Investigation: The case remained unsolved for 14 years. In 1998, Eaton’s DNA, collected during an assault incarceration, matched seminal evidence from Kimmell’s rape kit via the CODIS database. In 2002, investigators unearthed Kimmell’s buried car on Eaton’s property in Moneta, Wyoming, about 75 miles west of Casper, confirming his involvement. A handwritten note left on Kimmell’s tombstone, signed “Stringfellow Hawke” (a TV character), was later matched to Eaton’s handwriting. 

• Convictions (2004): Eaton was charged in 2003 and convicted on March 17, 2004, in Natrona County District Court of: 

• First-degree premeditated murder 

• Felony murder 

• Aggravated kidnapping 

• Aggravated robbery 

• First-degree sexual assault 

• Second-degree sexual assault 

• Sentencing: On March 20, 2004, the jury sentenced Eaton to death, making him Wyoming’s only death row inmate at the time. A $5 million civil judgment was awarded to Kimmell’s family for wrongful death on April 8, 2004. However, the death sentence was vacated in 2014 by federal judge Alan B. Johnson due to ineffective counsel during the penalty phase. Eaton was re-sentenced in 2022 to life without parole, plus 40–50 years for kidnapping, 20–25 years for robbery, and 20–25 years for sexual assault (some concurrent, some consecutive). 

• Appeals and Mental Health: Eaton’s appeals, led by attorney Sean O’Brien, argued ineffective counsel and mental incompetence. A 2021 mental evaluation at Wyoming State Hospital found dementia, depression, and stroke-related brain damage, deeming him unfit for a capital sentencing hearing. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case in January 2025, and his latest sentencing hearing, delayed due to transport issues, is tentatively set for March 2025. 

2. Breeden Family Kidnapping (1997, Wyoming)

• Crime Details: In 1997, Eaton stopped to “assist” the Breeden family, whose car had broken down, but then kidnapped them at gunpoint. He escaped custody but was recaptured in Shoshone National Forest, possessing a firearm, which elevated the crime to federal level. 

• Conviction: Eaton was convicted of kidnapping and federal weapons charges, serving time in Englewood federal prison, Colorado, where his DNA was collected for CODIS. 

• Significance: This conviction led to his DNA being linked to Kimmell’s murder, breaking the case open. 

3. Assault (1998, Wyoming)

• Crime Details: Eaton was convicted of assault in 1998, leading to his incarceration in Wyoming State Penitentiary. Details of the assault are sparse, but it prompted authorities to collect his DNA, which later matched Kimmell’s case. 

• Conviction: Served a sentence, during which his DNA was entered into CODIS. 

Suspected Crimes 

Eaton is suspected of numerous unsolved murders, particularly those labeled the Great Basin Murders, a loosely defined series of female homicides in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho from 1983 to 1996. His transient lifestyle, familiarity with remote areas near I-80, and violent MO make him a compelling suspect, though no additional convictions have been secured. Below are key cases linked to him: 

1. Starr Valley Jane Doe (1972, Nevada)

• Details: On July 14, 1972, a rancher found the nude, decomposed body of an unidentified woman in Starr Valley, Elko County, Nevada, a half mile west of Starr Valley Road. She was shot twice with a .22 caliber handgun and posed in a cross-like manner, suggesting a ritualistic element. A stolen Volkswagen Beetle with Tennessee plates was seen nearby.

• Connection to Eaton: Eaton, then about 27, had ties to Elko and matched the suspect profile: a drifter using small-caliber weapons and dumping bodies near I-80. The cross-like posing aligns with other Great Basin cases, like Shafter Jane Doe (1993). However, the early date (1972) predates the typical Great Basin timeline, and no DNA links Eaton directly.

• Status: Unsolved; Eaton remains a suspect but has not been charged. 

2. Great Basin Murders (1983–1996, Multiple States)

• Details: The Great Basin Murders involve several young women found dead in deserts near highways, primarily I-80, in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Victims were often raped and killed, with bodies left in remote areas. Shafter Jane Doe (1993, Nevada), shot and posed similarly to Starr Valley Jane Doe, is a notable case. 

• Connection to Eaton: Eaton’s MO—targeting young women, using small-caliber weapons, and choosing isolated dumpsites—matches many cases. Law enforcement convened in 2009 to explore connections, suspecting Eaton as the “Great Basin Killer.” His presence in the region and Kimmell’s murder (buried car, public body display) suggest serial killer traits. 

• Status: No convictions; Eaton has not confessed to additional murders, and DNA evidence is lacking. 

3. Amy Wroe Bechtel Disappearance (1997, Wyoming)

• Details: Amy Wroe Bechtel, 24, vanished on July 24, 1997, while running in the Shoshone National Forest near Lander, Wyoming. Her Toyota station wagon was found parked off a dirt road, but no trace of her was located. 

• Connection to Eaton: Eaton was in the area on business at the time, and his history of targeting women in remote settings raised suspicion. Law enforcement considers her a potential Great Basin victim, but no physical evidence links Eaton. 

• Status: Unsolved; Eaton is a possible suspect. 

Current Location 

As of May 14, 2025, Dale Wayne Eaton, now 80, is incarcerated in Wyoming, serving a life sentence without parole, plus additional consecutive sentences. His exact location is not publicly specified in recent sources, but he was last reported housed at a medium-security prison near Torrington, Wyoming, in 2022, before a failed transport to a sentencing hearing. His declining health—dementia, depression, and stroke-related brain damage—suggests he may be in a facility with medical accommodations, possibly Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution or Wyoming State Penitentiary. 

• Health Status: A 2021 evaluation found Eaton incompetent for capital sentencing due to cognitive decline, including confusion, memory issues, and speech difficulties. He reportedly believed he was 10 years older than his actual age. 

• Legal Status: Eaton’s latest appeal was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2025. A non-capital sentencing hearing, delayed due to transport issues, is tentatively set for March 2025 in Natrona County District Court.