By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has determined 16-year-old Austin King’s death was a homicide.
Austin King
The body of the Morton area teenager was found in July off a logging road a month after he disappeared from his home. It took until mid-August for authorities to confirm, though DNA, it was indeed the teenager.
Austin was reported missing June 24. He was initially classified by the sheriff’s office as a runaway, and two or three weeks later re-labeled endangered-missing.
Chief Deputy Coroner Dawn Harris said today the results of an examination by a forensic anthropologist were reviewed by the pathologist who conducted the autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
All the necessary reports were back in the coroner’s office last Friday, Harris said. “It is a homicide,” Harris said.
Elected Lewis County Coroner Terry Wilson put it this way: “Yes, that’s the way it looks right now,” Wilson said. “There’s an ongoing investigation.”
The coroner’s office is not releasing the cause of death at this time at the request of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The teenager was last seen by his mother Christy Harper at about 12:15 a.m. on June 23 when he said goodnight to her and went off to his detached bedroom outside of their mobile home with two buddies to watch television.
His body was found off a logging road some 10 miles from the family’s home in the Tilton River Mobile Home Park. Austin did not have a car, according to the sheriff’s office.
A memorial service for Austin will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the gym at Morton High School. A potluck will follow, according to Austin’s mother.
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To read previous coverage of Austin King’s case, see below:
• “Breaking news: Morton area body confirmed as missing teenager Austin King, sheriff’s office says” from Friday Aug. 20, 2010
• “Park filled with mourners for missing Morton teenager Austin King” from Saturday July 24, 2010
• “News brief: Specialist to help examine body found near Morton” from Thursday July 22, 2010
• “Vigil for Morton teen still on; body found yesterday not identified” from Wednesday July 21, 2010
• “News brief: Body of male found near logging road outside of Morton” from Tuesday July 20, 2010
• “News brief: Sheriff’ office seeks tips to find missing teen” from Thursday July 1, 2010
• “Morton teenager remains missing” from Thursday July 1, 2010
• Also, Roy Stemman, a writer in the United Kingdom, published a story, “Psychic guides searchers to teens body” in his Paranormal Review on July 27, 2010 after interviewing psychic Sonya Grace and Morton resident and search organizer Jennifer Mau, founder of the local chapter of Guardians of the Children.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter