The man found in a submerged car near the Chiawana Park boat launch has been identified as Jason Watts, and Pasco police say they are now treating the case as a homicide investigation. A fisherman spotted the vehicle in the Columbia River on Friday morning, prompting a major response that shut down the boat launch while crews pulled the car from the water and processed the scene. That same morning, Watts had been scheduled to appear in Benton-Franklin Superior Court as part of a jury trial on child-sex charges.
What Investigators Found in the River
Just before 8 a.m., a fisherman reported a mostly submerged vehicle near the Chiawana Park boat launch. Officers arrived to find a person inside the car, and dive teams and other crews moved in to recover the vehicle and preserve evidence. Detectives canvassed the area for anyone who might have seen or heard something that morning.
The Franklin County coroner and Pasco police later confirmed the victim was Watts and said the death is being investigated as a homicide, according to NonStop Local.
Inside the Court Case
Court records show Watts had been scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. for day five of a jury trial. He faced multiple charges alleging rape and child molestation tied to incidents in 2013, 2017 and 2019. Local coverage reported that prosecutors and defense attorneys had already started presenting testimony the previous day, and that Watts had been out on bond while awaiting trial.
His attorney told Yahoo News that Watts "was a gentleman who was working through some challenges," and offered condolences to his family.
Courtroom Fallout After the Discovery
Local outlets reported that once officials confirmed Watts’ death, the presiding judge informed jurors and dismissed the trial. The Franklin County coroner has not yet released a cause or manner of death, and investigators say they will share more details as the homicide investigation moves forward, according to reporting by Newstalk 870.
Authorities are also asking anyone who was in the Chiawana Park area on Friday morning to contact investigators as they work to piece together what happened.
How to Help Investigators
Pasco police have listed the case number as PPD 26-005017 and are urging anyone with information to call nonemergency dispatch at 509-628-0333 or the Pasco Police Department at 509-545-3421, according to NonStop Local.
Investigators say tips and eyewitness accounts could be critical in building a clear timeline as the case unfolds.
