Nancie Bakoles reminisces about observing her daughter — whom she affectionately referred to as her "reborn hippie" and "flower child" — gracefully descend the ramp to embark on a journey from Seattle to Salt Lake City.
Nikole "Niki" Bakoles, cradling her infant daughter, Chole, made her way onto the aircraft.That poignant scene remains etched as the final memory Nancie Bakoles holds dear of her daughter.
For a span of 12 years, she was merely known as "Saltair Sally," a moniker chosen arbitrarily by investigators due to the location where her remains were unearthed. It wasn't until earlier this year that detectives succeeded in unraveling the enigma surrounding Saltair Sally's true identity, revealing her actual name to be Nikole Bakoles, aged 20.
Bakoles' remains were stumbled upon in October of 2000 by hunters, amidst bones, strands of hair, a pristine sock, a T-shirt, and a intricately woven, azure choker-style necklace nestled within a patch of towering grass approximately 90 feet from the frontage road off I-80 along the Great Salt Lake.
Thursday, Bakoles' mother, brother, and two sisters embarked on a journey to Salt Lake City to reclaim the remains of their cherished one and escort them back to Washington.
"It's been a prolonged anticipation, and we genuinely perceive it as a blessing to commence the closure process to bring (her) home," articulated her brother, James Bakoles.
He and Niki shared an inseparable bond growing up in the Puget Sound vicinity, with her being a mere year his senior.
"We were inseparable," he reminisced.
Niki was characterized by James Bakoles as a free spirit, an "artistic soul" enthralled by poetry, canvases, and sketchbooks. "She epitomized an active, intrepid, grounded individual, leading a remarkably fulfilling life," he reflected.
Material possessions held little sway over Niki, her family recollected. She often expressed a simple desire for a domicile adorned with a white picket fence and a family. Her mother recounted a particular Christmas when her only wish was a pair of jeans from the nearby Goodwill.
By the time Niki Bakoles reached 16 or 17, her brother recollected a subtle drift as they "began to mature," and she ventured into "exploring her horizons," procuring a driver's license and socializing with newfound companions.
In 1998, Niki Bakoles and her partner, Joel Chaudoin, relocated to Utah for occupational pursuits. The couple welcomed a child into the world during their tenure in Utah. Her family journeyed to Salt Lake City for the birth, and Niki also revisited Seattle shortly thereafter.
However, subsequent to these events, Niki Bakoles' family found themselves adrift from her whereabouts, her transient nature impeding efforts to maintain contact.
The last encounter Nancie Bakoles shared with her daughter remains ensconced in positivity.
"I had the opportunity to rekindle our bond. She spoke of life and the exhilaration of motherhood," she reminisced.
Niki's mother advocated for her return to Washington. Nonetheless, she opted to remain in Utah, where she and Chaudoin grappled with "challenging circumstances" in Midvale, resulting in the loss of custody of their child, as divulged by Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. The child presently resides with Chaudoin's kin in Wisconsin.
"We speculate that the events post the child's birth might have catalyzed her disappearance," Winder remarked.
The family gradually lost touch with Niki Bakoles, attributing it to strain emanating from her living situation. They assumed she required solitude to cope with the tribulations she faced. Though fraught with concern, they refrained from reporting her absence to the authorities, uncertain of her whereabouts.
In 2003 — three years subsequent to the discovery of Saltair Sally — the Bakoles family deemed themselves equipped with sufficient information to lodge a missing person's report.
Two pivotal breakthroughs for investigators materialized in 2008, facilitated by technological advancements enabling a novel DNA analysis. Leveraging preserved samples of Niki's hair, investigators discerned her ties to the Northwestern region. In 2011, a DNA specimen from the victim's mother was procured in a bid to ascertain Saltair Sally's identity.
Upon confirmation that the victim was indeed Niki, James Bakoles articulated a sentiment tinged with ambivalence.
"It's a profoundly ambivalent moment. There's a profound sense of relief knowing she's no longer enduring hardship. Yet, peace eludes us, shadowed by the circumstances surrounding her demise and vanishing," he expressed. "With every answer, a myriad more questions arise."
"For the past 12 years, I've fretted incessantly, pondering, 'Is she safe? Does she have a roof over her head? Is she nourished adequately? Is she subject to maltreatment?'" Nancie Bakoles divulged. "The solace lies in finally dispelling these concerns. I'm grateful she isn't enduring such hardships."
Yet, the family and law enforcement seek the cooperation of the public to shed light on lingering uncertainties. Specifically, the police implore individuals acquainted with Niki Bakoles or Chaudoin between January and June of 2000 to come forward.
Chaudoin presently serves a sentence in a Washington state penitentiary on unrelated charges. The Bakoles family has had no communication with him for approximately seven years. Although Unified police have interrogated Chaudoin, they refrain from categorizing him as either a suspect or a person of interest in her demise.
James Bakoles exercised caution in his remarks when queried about Chaudoin's potential involvement in her demise.
"I cannot say. Truly, I cannot. He was among the last individuals known to have been with her. Nonetheless, innocence prevails until proven otherwise. Let the investigators discharge their duties," he articulated.
Individuals possessing pertinent information concerning the case are encouraged to contact Unified police at 801-743-7000.
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