Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  A trial is set for next June in the case of 16-year-old Austin King, whose body was found off a logging road some 10 miles away from his Morton area home over the summer.

An acquaintance, Jack Arnold Silverthorne, 20, of Renton, is charged with first-degree murder and remains held on $2 million bail.

The teenager vanished from his family’s home in the Tilton River Mobile Home Park early on June 23 and was the subject of a month-long search headed up by volunteers. His body was found July 20 with a skull crack above his right ear.

Silverthorne appeared briefly in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis today with his attorney, J.P. Enbody. His trial was scheduled for the week of June 6.

Authorities believe Silverthorne took Austin up into the woods after a birthday party at Austin’s home and say cigarette butts found near the body and Silverthorne’s broken hand are among the evidence that ties him to the slaying.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher says Austin died from blunt force to his head, however, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office still refuses to release the cause of death publicly.

The teenager’s remains have not yet been released for burial.

Meagher said today he hasn’t given to coroner’s office the go ahead to release them as the defense may want to have an expert examine the remains.
•••

• News brief: Morton homicide suspect pleads not guilty” from Thursday Nov. 18, 2010

Read more about the case in “Morton homicide: Suspect had broken hand, victim had cracked skull” from Wednesday Nov. 10, 2010 by clicking here

• “Breaking news: Renton man, 20, arrested for murder in death of Austin King” from Wednesday Nov. 10, 2010

• “Breaking news: Morton teenager died by homicide, coroner’s office says” from Friday Oct. 8, 2010

• “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

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 at 3:02 pm and is filed under Top story of the day. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.