The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation after human remains were found in a burned vehicle in the Randle area on Thursday, the day after a deputy initially discovered the vehicle.
Initially, a news release from the sheriff’s office on Friday morning stated, “A driver sent to impound a burned vehicle that was abandoned approximately 3 miles off of Forest Road 25 called 911 just after 11:50 a.m. on April 13 to report what appeared to be human remains inside the vehicle.”
Field Operations Chief Dusty Breen confirmed that this was the case, but, on Friday afternoon, the office then confirmed a tip that the vehicle was initially found by a deputy who was dispatched specifically to the burned vehicle from “a call that was generated to us on April 12 at 7:44 p.m. … The following day, the body was discovered.”
The sheriff’s office confirmed the remains in the vehicle were human, according to the news release.
Asked whether the vehicle was empty on Wednesday and whether remains may have been placed there the following day, Breen said “there is nothing to indicate at this time” that remains were “placed” between the initial call and the arrival of the impound vehicle.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office personnel and the Lewis County Coroner’s Office are working to identify the decedent and to determine the cause and manner of death, according to the news release.
“Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further details are being
released at this time,” stated the sheriff’s office.
Anyone with information pertaining to this case is encouraged to contact the Lewis
County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286 or Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.
