The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspected homicide after finding the body of an unidentified individual next to Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis Tuesday afternoon.
According to Special Services Chief Gabriel Frase, the individual was located west of the railroad tracks and north and east of the Newaukum River.
The Chief said the Lewis County Coroner’s Office would release the name of the deceased.
In a statement to The Chronicle given shortly after 7 p.m., Frase said deputies were dispatched to the area of a possibly deceased person at about 1:15 p.m.
“Subsequent investigation determined that the subject appeared to have died by a homicide,” Frase said. “Detectives arrived and went ahead and continued the investigation, followed some leads and were able to locate a suspect and take them into custody for murder one.”
Frase did not identify the suspect, who was located near the scene. But according to the Lewis County Jail log and Lewis County Superior Court documents, the suspect is Connor J. Price. He is scheduled to make an appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Wednesday afternoon.
According to Frase, at about 1:10 p.m., a family member of the deceased first called to report they had heard from a friend that the individual may be deceased in the area.
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office arrived at the scene around 5:15 p.m. Family members arrived roughly an hour and a half later.
The body of the deceased was loaded into a coroner’s vehicle shortly after 8 p.m.
