The Bakersfield 3: A Mysterious Case of Disappearances and Murder

The Bakersfield 3 Case Overview

• 📌 The "Bakersfield 3" refers to three friends—Bailey Despot, Micah Holsonbake, and James Coloulad—who disappeared or were murdered within a month in 2018 in Bakersfield, California.
• 💡 All three individuals came from good families but fell into drug use, leading them to associate with a dangerous group involved in illegal activities.

Bailey Despot's Downward Spiral

• 💔 Bailey Despot's life took a downward turn after a difficult divorce, leading to drug use and association with a new, problematic crowd.
• ⚠️ She experienced a traumatic gang rape after her drink was drugged and later obtained a domestic violence restraining order against a new boyfriend.
• 🚗 A traffic stop revealed five loaded guns in a car driven by her boyfriend, Matthew Queen, a convicted felon, leading to Bailey receiving probation.
• ❓ Despite the legal troubles, Bailey moved in with Queen, who was twice her age, further distancing herself from her family.

Micah Holsonbake's Struggles

• 📈 Micah Holsonbake, initially a well-rounded student, developed an interest in forensics and pursued a career in finance after a medical discharge from the Navy due to throat issues.
• 💊 Chronic pain from throat surgeries led to an addiction to pain pills, which eventually escalated to illegal street drugs.
• 😨 Micah became paranoid, fearing he was being followed, and was involved with a group dealing drugs, illegal guns, and potentially the sex trade, which threatened him and his family.
• 💔 His mother expressed deep concern over his fear for his life and involvement with this dangerous group.

James Coloulad's Entrepreneurial Spirit and Downfall

• 🏄‍♂️ James Coloulad was an entrepreneur and surfer who patented inventions like "less mess bibs" and "torch skateboard trucks."
• 💰 Known as "Joe Vegas" for his love of gambling, he was described as having a "heart of gold" and being a good salesman.
• 🤕 A car accident led to severe pain, prescription medication use, and eventually heroin addiction, significantly altering his personality and behavior.
• 🎯 James was allegedly killed at a chiropractor's house while attempting to collect money related to illegal operations, with the shooter remaining unidentified.

The Connection and Investigation

• 🤝 The three individuals became friends through their shared involvement with drugs and the people supplying them.
• 📅 Micah Holsonbake was last seen in late March 2018, James Coloulad was murdered on April 8th, and Bailey Despot went missing on April 25th, 2018.
• 🦴 In August 2018, a severed arm belonging to Micah was found in the Kern River, confirming his death and intensifying the search for Bailey.
• 🗣️ An ex-FBI profiler suggested the perpetrator of Micah's murder and Bailey's disappearance was likely a violent, white male between 35-40, possibly connected to James's killer.
• ❓ The Bakersfield Police Department acknowledges commonalities but has not officially confirmed a direct link between all three cases, though they consider it a high priority.
• 😔 The case highlights how drug addiction and association with criminal elements can lead to tragic circumstances, leaving families with unanswered questions.