In the early hours of Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, a quiet downtown Kent pocket park turned into a crime scene when a Renton woman was found dead, and a man was discovered seriously injured, according to Kent police. Officers and Puget Sound Fire crews rushed to Kaibara Park after a passerby reported two people unconscious. The woman, described as being in her late 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 53-year-old man was taken to a hospital with a head injury. The Kent Police Detective Unit is leading the investigation, and the King County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
What Kent Police Say
In a Facebook post, the Kent Police Department said officers were dispatched to Kaibara Park around 3:50 a.m. after a 911 caller reported finding two people unconscious. The department identified the pair as a 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, both from Renton. Puget Sound Fire crews attempted lifesaving measures on the woman, but she died at the scene, and the man, who had a head injury, was transported to a local hospital. Detectives are treating the case as a potential homicide while the official cause of death remains undetermined, according to the Kent Police Department.
How The Scene Unfolded
According to a report from KIRO 7, the passerby who discovered the man and woman first went to a nearby business and asked someone there to call 911, then returned to help officers locate the pair. An officer arrived within minutes and found both individuals on the ground. KIRO 7 reported that Puget Sound Fire crews provided lifesaving aid to the woman before she was declared dead at the park and that the King County Medical Examiner will make the final call on the cause of death. The station also noted that investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Kent Police tip line at 253-856-5808 or email [email protected], per KIRO 7.
About Kaibara Park
Kaibara Park is a small downtown pocket park near Kent’s business district, known for its koi pond, public art and maple trees. The City of Kent lists the park on its parks pages, noting its daytime hours, benches and quiet setting for visitors. More background on the park is available on the City of Kent parks page at City of Kent.
How To Help Investigators
Detectives are urging anyone with time-sensitive information to call non-emergency dispatch at 253-852-2121, or 911 in an emergency, and to share tips with the Kent Police Tip Line at 253-856-5808 or [email protected]. The department also listed Assistant Chief Jarod Kasner as the media contact and provided an email for media inquiries in its online post. As of this writing, no arrests have been announced and investigators say they will release more details as they become available, according to the Kent Police Department.
