Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated at 11:46 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A person reportedly walking in the westbound lane of state Route 508 just east of Interstate 5 died after being struck by a vehicle yesterday evening.

Troopers called at 7:19 p.m. to the scene found the driver of the 2000 Toyota Tundra pickup was unhurt, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The victim is described only as a male pedestrian whose age is unknown. The incident is under investigation.

The state patrol indicates the location as near milepost 1. The Washington State Department of Transportation described the site as at milepost 0.2, near “Forest Road.” All lanes were blocked and a detour put in place until 10:49 p.m., according to WSDOT.

State patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn tweeted the fatality collision occurred on state Route 508 at “East Forest Road.” A map published by Lewis County lists no Forest Road in its index but shows that East Forest-Napavine Road intersects with the state highway in that vicinity.

Finn said this morning the pedestrian had no identification on him. He was wearing dark clothing, Finn said.

“We’re not sure who it is at this point,” Finn said.

The state patrol will be working with the Lewis County Coroner’s Office and potentially use finger prints to figure out who he is, according to Finn.

As of about 10 o’clock this morning, Finn said nobody had contacted authorities to report a family member missing.

Skylar R. Tremayne, 22, of Chehalis, was behind the wheel of the Toyota Tundra, according to the state patrol. No criminal charges are expected, according to the Washington State Patrol.

It was just two weeks ago when another pedestrian was killed after dark on a highway in Lewis County.

Richard E. Graham, 45, was found  lying on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 12 near Gershick Road about 8:30 p.m. on September 24 in Silver Creek, and troopers  determined he had been hit by an eastbound vehicle, which did not remain at the scene. It wasn’t until two days later a motorist came forward and said they believed they might have struck the Silver Creek man.

Surveillance image from Les Schwab shows suspect and victim vehicles heading outbound on Harrison Avenue in Centralia. / Image courtesy of Centralia Police Department

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A passenger sustained a superficial wound on his forehead when a motorist fired upon a truck several times as both traveled northbound on Harrison Avenue in Centralia yesterday.

It happened in the stretch where two outbound lanes merge into one lane, near the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue.

Centralia police are looking for the suspect described as a white male with a lot of dark curly hair, who was behind the wheel of a light colored Honda Civic.

Centralia police detective John Panco said officers have not pinned down a motive, but it looks “like probably a road rage incident” at this point.

“We’re hoping anyone with information will contact us so we can follow up on leads,” Panco said this morning.

It was 1:52 p.m. when officers responded to a call about shots fired and contacted the occupants of the victim vehicle, a 2000 Ford F250 pickup.

The driver, a 25-year-old Rochester man, was very lucky to have escaped injury, Panco said. The 28-year-old Centralia man sitting in the front passenger seat had only a minor injury, when a fragment from one of the bullets lodged in the baseball cap he was wearing, according to Panco.

Bullets were recovered from inside the victim truck, he said.

As a precaution the passenger was transported to Centralia Providence Hospital by ambulance and was treated and then released.

Panco said the victims told police they had never seen the suspect before. A witness described seeing the suspect vehicle pull in front of him, then the Ford Pickup pulled in front of the suspect and then the suspect car pulled up alongside the driver’s side of the truck.

The driver of the Honda shot several times out the open passenger window of his car at the driver of the truck, Panco said.

The Honda was last seen continuing north on Harrison towards the intersection of Reynolds Road and Galvin Road, possibly turning west onto Galvin Road, according to police.

The Honda is possibly silver or white and had a tinted back window, according to the Centralia Police Department. It’s not known if any of its other windows were tinted. No other persons were observed in the Honda.

The Centralia Police Department is asking any citizen that has information about this incident to call 360-330-7680.

Wild chase of hit and run suspect finally ends at South Gold and Summa streets in Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Cheryl Towne

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A motorist who escaped being PIT’ed multiple times by pursuing police vehicles, even though she was traveling with three tires already flattened by spike strips, was finally apprehended and appeared to be under the influence or alcohol or drugs yesterday in Centralia.

Three police vehicles were damaged as law enforcement attempted to capture the fleeing hit and run suspect, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Officers with their lights and sirens activated chased the suspect car south on South Gold Street, as the Ford Focus turned down side streets, blew through stop signs and traveled in the wrong lane of traffic, according to police. They deflated three of the car’s tires with spike strips, but the driver kept going, according to police.

Police then tried to stop the car with repeated use of the PIT maneuver, according to police.

The Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver is a controlled collision in which a patrol vehicle bumps or taps a rear corner of a fleeing vehicle to cause it to spin out and stop.

After one attempt, the woman behind the wheel restarted her car and drove off before officers could get her out of the vehicle. A subsequent attempt to PIT the car caused it to spin out, and then the suspect continued driving, this time the wrong way on a one-way street, police said.

The final PIT attempt occurred at the intersection of South Gold and Summa streets.

The 53-year-old woman was still uncooperative and had to be pulled from the driver’s seat, according to police Cmdr. Stacy Denham and Sgt. Patty Finch.

Three police vehicles were damaged, the department stated in a press release.

The incident began about 3:40 p.m. when officers were dispatched to a collision at the intersection of North Tower Avenue and Sixth Street after a silver Ford Focus T-boned a semi-truck and left the scene.

The suspect, Robin Wick, 53, of Vancouver, Wash., was reportedly uninjured. She was taken into custody for hit and run, attempting to elude a police vehicle and driving under the influence, according to the press release.

Wick was transported to the hospital so her blood could be drawn, police said. She was then booked into the Lewis County Jail.

The case is still being investigated.

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A tow truck prepares to haul away a police car damaged during pursuit in Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Susie Nichols

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 82-year-old woman found dead after searches for her in the woods outside of Packwood apparently had tumbled down an embankment and wasn’t spotted sooner because of thick brush, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Barbara Weed, from Yakima, died from hypothermia due to the cold environment, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office concluded yesterday.

The sheriff’s office was notified on Sunday afternoon Weed had become separated from her companions while berry picking and was missing in the area off of Forest Service Road 45. Her body was found by search and rescue personnel about 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday.

Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning Weed was found less than a quarter mile from the truck they had begun picking from, but was about 40 feet below a steep embankment and would not been easily seen because of the brush. Breen said she had a previous leg injury, so mobility was an apparent issue at times.

The coroner’s office has ruled the death as an accident.
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For background, read “News brief: Missing berry picker found dead near Packwood” from Wednesday August 29, 2018, here

Benito “Benny” S. Marquez awaits his turn to go before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court for bail hearing

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Prosecutors say 16-year-old  Benjamin Eastman III was sexually violated with a stick during a fatal assault by his friend and the friend’s brother in which he was hit and kicked to death before being buried in a shallow grave the suspects marked with a cross made of sticks in Randle.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer today charged Benito S. Marquez, 16, and his older brother Jonathon R. Adamson, 21, with first-degree murder and other offenses including first-degree rape.

Benjamin Eastman III
2002 – 2018

All three are from Randle. Detectives have said Eastman and Marquez lived near each other and were longtime friends.

“We’re not going to talk about motive at this time,” Meyer said after a court hearing for the defendants.

Meyer says the brothers lured Eastman to a wooded area under the guise of a camping trip on or about Sunday June 24. Eastman’s father reported him missing on Wednesday and investigators discovered his body this past Thursday on property off the Cispus Road belonging to the brothers’ grandparents.

The brothers appeared in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon, in a nearly packed courtroom, represented by defense attorney Scott Johnson from Tri-Cities and a second lawyer.

Meyer asked they be held in lieu of $10 million bail and Judge James Lawler agreed.

Eastman lived with his father BJ Eastman on the 100 block of Gharet Road East in Randle and he last saw his son before going to bed on the Saturday night, according to authorities.

As deputies began looking for the teen, they were provided with his cell phone records which showed he was in contact with his friend and classmate Marquez, who goes by Benny, in the early morning hours on Sunday, according to charging documents.

Eastman indicated in a text he would be traveling to his buddy’s home, in the last activity on his phone, according to prosecutors.

When Marquez was interviewed last last week, he denied Eastman ever showed up.

Based on subsequent interviews with the suspects, detectives were able to determine the two planned to assault Eastman when they lured him to a wooded area, Meyer wrote in charging documents. Meyer said he didn’t know where that location was.

It was estimated by Adamson the assault lasted between 20 and 45 minutes, continuing after Eastman was on the ground; with well over 100 kicks delivered to the victim, according to the allegations. The pathologist agreed that number could be correct, based on the extensive injuries to Eastman’s head and torso, according to Meyer.

Adamson allegedly told authorities he pulled down Eastman’s pants and inserted a stick from the scene into Eastman’s rectum, while Marquez held Eastman’s shoulders, according to Meyer.

The two allegedly hit Eastman repeatedly with a large rock to ensure he was dead and buried him in a shallow grave at the scene. His and the brothers’ clothing along with a shovel were burned in a burn pile behind the brothers’ home, according to Meyer.

A short time later, concerned the site would be discovered, the brothers allegedly removed the body, wrapping it in plastic and twine from their grandparents’ barn and re-buried him on the grandparents’ property.

Detectives were were initially told that was a gravesite for a dog, but last Thursday when Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ken Cheeseman got permission to search the property, he began to move the soil and uncovered a human foot, according to authorities. The grave was marked with a cross made of sticks.

Attempts to contact the brothers at that time revealed they had fled the area. Late the following afternoon, Adamson and Marquez were found when troopers made a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Ellensburg.

The brothers are also charged with tampering with physical evidence and unlawful disposal of remains. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in prison, according to Meyer’s charging documents.

Meyer said although Marquez is a juvenile, under the law a 16-year-old or a 17-year-old is automatically charged in adult court, for certain crimes.

The arraignments are scheduled for July 12.
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For background, read “Brothers arrested in death of 16-year-old Randle boy” from Saturday June 30, 2018, here

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Jonathon R. Adamson is escorted to the defense table for a bail hearing in Lewis County Superior Court

Updated at 12:36 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The two brothers law enforcement wanted to talk with in connection with the Randle teen reported missing this week were located late yesterday afternoon, when troopers made a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Ellensburg.

Benito S. Marquez, 16, and Jonathan R. Adamson, 21, were arrested for second-degree murder, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Benjamin Eastman III

Lewis County sheriff’s deputies found a fresh shallow grave off of Cispus Road in Randle on Thursday afternoon, on property belonging to a relative of the two brothers. An autopsy is being conducted today on the body of 16-year-old Benjamin Eastman III, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said in a press release this morning.

Eastman’s father reported him as missing or runaway early Wednesday morning and had last seen his son before going to bed on Saturday night, according to the sheriff’s office. The family resides on the 100 block of Gharet Road East.

Yesterday morning, the sheriff’s office said they learned Eastman and Marquez, who goes by Benny, had planned to meet up on Saturday evening, but Marquez said Eastman never showed up. The two boys are described as longtime friends who lived near each other in Randle.

“This is a horrific and senseless death that will have a lasting impact on this small community, surrounding area and all involved,” Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza stated. “Through the work of our deputies, detectives, other agencies, and the citizens of Lewis County we have been able to apprehend the two, we feel are responsible for the murder of Ben Eastman III.”

Kimsey said this morning that detectives traveled to Ellensburg and interviewed the two brothers. Based on interviews and investigation to date, the two were arrested and returned to Lewis County.

Adamson was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Marquez was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center.

Kimsey said he could not talk about what the two suspects said or didn’t say about what led to Eastman’s death. The investigation is continuing, according to Kimsey. He referred questions to the Lewis County prosecutor.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said he expects to get more answers today, from the preliminary autopsy report.

Eastman died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to Lewis County Chief Deputy Coroner Dawn Harris.

“Motive, we’re not discussing at this time, because the investigation is ongoing,” Meyer said.

The two are expected to make their first court appearances on Monday.

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For background, read “Body found in shallow grave in Randle, two brothers sought for questioning” from Friday June 29, 2018, here

Updated at 5:35 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Lewis County sheriff’s deputies found a fresh shallow grave yesterday afternoon as they searched for 16-year-old Benjamin Eastman of Randle missing since Saturday.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey says while the identity of the body has not been established, it was found on property off Cispsus Road belonging to a relative of a longtime friend of Eastman. The 16-year-old friend is the last person known to be in contact with the missing boy, according to Kimsey.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate the friend Benito Marquez and his 21-year-old brother Jonathan Adamson, Kimsey said this morning.

Eastman lives on the 100 block of Gharet Road East in Randle and was reported as missing or runaway by his father early Wednesday morning. The father said he last saw his son before going to bed on Saturday night, according to the sheriff’s office. Friends and family attempted to find the teen before calling authorities.

Deputies learned Eastman and Marquez, who goes by “Benny” had planned to meet up on Saturday evening, but Marquez said Eastman never showed up. The two live near each other in Randle and have been friends for years, according to the sheriff’s office.

When deputies interviewed Marquez yesterday, he indicated he had not seen Eastman in several days.

It was around 4 p.m. yesterday as law enforcement was canvassing an area in Randle, when they were led to the remote property off Cispus Road, and what they were initially told was a gravesite for a dog, according to Kimsey.

It seemed suspicious, according to Kimsey.

The shallow grave was in a wooded area away from any buildings on the property and contained the body of a person.

Kimsey stated in a press release last night: “It is unknown at this time if the discovery of this gravesite and body are connected to the missing juvenile. At this time, the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the deceased is not known at this time.”

The Lewis County Coroner’s Office is tasked with making positive identification and notifying next-of-kin. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow to determine the cause and manner of death.

Anyone having information on the whereabouts of the two brothers is asked to contact the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286.
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For background, read “Deputies search for missing Randle teen” from Thursday June 28, 2018, here