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
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Thank you JayJay and Jane for the clarification. I was on vacation there and got back home Sunday, so still have road fatigue. My friend told me about this while I was visiting. Sad, sad, sad. My heart breaks and my eyes cry for this horrific act of violence that lead to murder.
It was not the brother it was a friend of Ben and the friend’s brother. The boy admitted to the rape and murder, so they are guilty.
My question is why anyone would do something so gruesome?
I hope the law and courts never let these boys out. One was 16, but this crime was so horrific.
It wasn’t a brother who killed the other. It was 2 brothers who killed a friend. Reread the article again. Not brother against brother.
This is so senseless and heartbreaking for the family and the public as well. Pains my heart to read this. What is wrong with people these days? Family blood didn’t even matter with a brother murdering his own flesh! Justice will be done, but the pain for this family will forever be felt…
There’s no winner or good news here, only a family with a very painful path ahead of them. One son dead, and the older brother arrested for his murder.
This breaks my heart. My hope and prayer are that Justice will happen and the truth will also come out. Remember innocent until proven guilty.