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
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
monsters like these two should feel the same thing these two monsters should have to do one another the same way before electric chair
That young kid is gonna have fun in Green Hill. I just got released from there last week. Poor ben. RIP
Hope the result is a “Life without parole”. It don’t make sense.
This is beyond tragic, unhumane..this poor young man couldn’t have done anything to deserve this. My heart goes out to the Families🌈rip
If these two are tried,and found guilty. Bring back public executions and hang em. It’ll on!y take a few examples to keep the rest in check.
Just awful.
Again with Ellensburg – this is just like something that you’d see on cable.