FOLLOW US

Netflix's "Worst Roommate Ever" Season 2 details a terrifying true crime story in Seattle. It focuses on the horrific double murder committed by an Airbnb landlord Michael Lee Dudley. The episode, aptly titled "The Lethal Landlord," delves into the how Dudley brutally ended the lives of couple Austin Wenner and Jessica Lewis.

TikTok Teens Discover Bodies

The grim discovery was made by a trio of teenagers, exploring Seattle’s Alki Beach for a TikTok video. The teens stumbled upon a black suitcase. As they unzipped the bag, expecting to find something of interest, they were met with the nauseating sight of human remains. 

The video of their shocking discovery quickly went viral, amassing over 30 million views and prompting a swift police investigation.

Lethal Landlord Arrested

Two months after the remains were found, Dudley, a seemingly benign 66-year-old, was arrested on August 19, 2020.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Dudley was charged with two counts of second-degree murder. On April 7, 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to 46 years in prison. 

The evidence against him was damning; freshly covered bullet holes and traces of blood were found in his home, where Wenner and Lewis had been staying.

The backstory of the victims reveals a tragic series of events. Jessica Lewis, 35, and her boyfriend Austin Wenner, 27, had rented a room from Dudley in Burien, Washington, in late 2019. 

By summer 2020, they had disappeared. According to court documents, a neighbor reported hearing a man’s desperate pleas for his life, followed by gunshots on June 9, 2020. Despite the police being called, Dudley refused to open the door.

A History of Violence

Further investigation revealed that Dudley had killed the couple over a dispute about unpaid rent. The tenants were not only murdered but also dismembered, their body parts crammed into the suitcase discovered on Alki Beach. 

The viral TikTok video that brought this atrocity to public attention played a crucial role in the investigation and subsequent arrest of Dudley.

Michael Dudley's history of violent behavior was further corroborated by testimonies from his ex-girlfriend and family members of the victims. His ex-girlfriend, Marlys Gordon, recounted an incident where Dudley assaulted her, and Jessica Lewis' aunt, Gina Jaschke, revealed on "Worst Roommate Ever" that Dudley had previously held Lewis at gunpoint and made other violent threats.

Now serving his sentence at Washington State Penitentiary, Dudley will not be eligible for parole until he is 104 years old.

This chilling case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk in seemingly ordinary places and people.