This was updated at 11:30 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed today they believe foul play was involved in the case of the woman whose skeletal remains were found near Morton this past spring.
Artists rendering
A motorist who pulled off U.S. Highway 12 to take a break spotted the remains off the side of a logging road about 5:30 p.m. on April 7.
The sheriff’s office has revealed very little about the case, but today released an artist’s sketch they hope will help them identify the woman.
“Obviously we’re at a standstill in the case until we find out who she is,” Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
An image was made by studying the facial bones of the female they say is believed to have been between 20 and 35 years old when she died.
She is described as small in stature and possibly of mixed ethnicity.
An examination by a specialist at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office could not determine the cause of death, according to Brown.
The discovery was made 100 yards up a logging road just outside Morton, according to the sheriff’ office. They still won’t specify where, even if that was east or west of town.
“We’re not giving the exact location because whoever killed her knows those details,” Brown said.
The sheriff’s office is not commenting on whether they believe the woman died there or elsewhere but have previously said it was doubtful the remains had been there very long, because it was a well-used logging road.
The sheriff’s office isn’t yet saying what they were told by the expert for an estimate of how long ago the woman had died, in part because they have not yet received the report, according to Brown.
Dental records and DNA from the deceased have been entered into databases with no matches found.
Anyone with any information about this female or the case is asked to call the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286 or Lewis County Crime Stoppers – if the person wishes to remain anonymous – at 1-800-748-6422.
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Read previous story: “New lead in possible identity of Morton skeletal remains” from Thursday Sept. 22, 2011, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter