Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County coroner positively identified the body pulled from the Cowlitz River as Elizabeth A. Pham, the Centralia woman who was reported missing two and a half weeks ago.

Elizabeth A. Pham

Coroner Warren McLeod indicated yesterday he won’t have a determination on her cause and manner of death until he gets back the results of toxicology tests.

The 33-year-old wife and mother of three was last seen on Oct. 10 in the area around Interstate 5’s exit 59 at Vader. She was shoeless, wearing pajama bottoms and described as behaving unusual and confused by at least one person who saw her that day.

Her black Lexus was discovered on the freeway, unlocked with the keys in it.

Members of the sheriff’s office searched the river to an area approximately two miles downstream from the Mandy Road overpass four days after she disappeared. Fisherman found her on Tuesday morning about two miles from where she was last seen.

The sheriff’s office has said Pham may have been suffering from from postpartum depression.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Woman’s body retrieved from Cowlitz River near Vader from Tuesday October 27, 2015, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 3-year-old child was injured when the pickup truck in which she was riding attempted to turn onto state Route 6 near Adna and struck another vehicle yesterday.

Troopers called about 5:15 p.m. to the scene at Chilvers Road cited Jessica L. Mohoric, 27, of Chehalis, for failure to yield, according to the Washington State Patrol. Her Dodge pickup was damaged and towed. Mohoric was reportedly unhurt.

The 2012 Buick Enclave which had been traveling on state Route 6 was described as totaled. Its driver, Linda L. Gustin, 67, also from Chehalis, was reportedly unhurt as well.

The 3-year-old girl was transported by private vehicle to Providence Centralia Hospital.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The body of a woman was found in the Cowlitz River today, about two miles downriver from where a missing Centralia mother of three was last seen.

Elizabeth A. Pham

Clothing on the body matches clothing Elizabeth A. Pham, 33, was wearing when she was last seen on Oct. 10, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

A pair of fisherman who called 911 about 10 o’clock this morning said they were turning their boat around when they spotted the body, approximately one-eighth of a mile southwest of where Lacamas Creek flows into the Cowlitz, according to the sheriff’s office.

Since her disappearance, detectives have actively investigated the case, following up on numerous leads from Clark to Whatcom Counties, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown indicated this afternoon.

“This is a sad day. I think everyone was hopeful Elizabeth would eventually be located alive,” Sheriff Robert Snaza stated. “Our thoughts are with Elizabeth’s family and friends.”

The sheriff’s office has said Pham may have been suffering from from postpartum depression. They also wondered if she may have hitched a ride with someone as her car was found along the freeway, unoccupied.

Detectives continue to investigate the death, according to Brown.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.
•••

For background, read “News brief: No evidence found of missing mom in Cowlitz River” from Thursday October 15, 2015, here

Updated at 10:47 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Numerous individuals reported to Centralia police yesterday they received phone calls purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service, that included a threat of arrest if they did not contact the phone number provided and send money.

This is a scam, according to the Centralia Police Department.

More than a half dozen people contacted Chehalis police yesterday about similar calls, and two more reported calls this morning.

The IRS makes notifications by letter and does not just call and tell someone they owe money, according to police.

The advice from local law enforcement: If you think a call is legitimate, contact the IRS local office from a number in the phone book and confirm they are actually calling before you send any money or give any additional information.

Just last week, a 77-year-old Centralia area woman was tricked out of more than $2,000 when she got a call from someone who told her he was an officer with the U.S. Treasury and she would be arrested if she did not immediately pay more than $6,400 she owed.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Lewis County Crime Stoppers is now offering text a tip as an option to anonymously report a crime tip and possibly pick up a reward.

The new way to pass along information to law enforcement is easy, according to Lewis County Crime Stoppers.

Text LEWIS to number 274637 (CRIMES).

You will receive a reply with your anonymous code generated by Crime Stoppers’ computer software.

Reply by texting details of your crime tip that will help lead officers to the criminal.

If your tip leads to an arrest crime stoppers will use your anonymous code to communicate with you where information will be sent directly to your phone on how to collect your reward.

People should not use the system to report crimes in progress; for that, people should call 911.

Members of the public can still submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers by phoning 1-800-748-6422 or online at http://www.lewiscountycrimestoppers.org

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County coroner has concluded the Silver Creek man whose truck was found wrecked not far from his home on Monday night died from injuries caused by the accident.

Paul L. Halstead, 63, left home that morning and when he didn’t return as expected, family and friends began searching for him, according to authorities.

His family found him inside his Ford Ranger pickup on its top, down an embankment off of state Route 122, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The state patrol suspected inattention may have been to blame, but then changed the cause of the collision to the less specific “wheels off the roadway”.

Coroner Warren McLeod said today that Halstead died from blunt force trauma to his head and neck.

Troopers concluded the wreck probably occurred about 7:10 a.m. that day.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 42-year-old Olympia man was arrested last night for his alleged involvement in 11 burglaries last year in Lewis County including the home of then Centralia Police Chief Bob Berg.

Christopher G. Oberst was contacted at his residence yesterday evening and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said a 38-year-old man who is currently an inmate at the Thurston County Jail confessed to the burglaries and named Oberst as someone who committed the crimes with him. He gave information including the various locations, the property taken and the method of entry, Brown said.

Oberst was booked for 11 counts of residential burglary, according to Brown. The investigation regarding the inmate is ongoing, she said.

The sheriff’s office is looking into three additional suspects related to the cases and their involvement with nine other local burglaries, Brown said.