What started as a call for medical help in Highland Park quickly turned into a death investigation after first responders found a woman dead inside a parked RV in West Seattle.
Seattle police and firefighters were dispatched after a 911 caller reported a medical problem in the vehicle. When crews arrived, they determined the woman inside had died, and authorities closed off the immediate area so investigators and the King County Medical Examiner's Office could begin their work.
According to the West Seattle Blog, Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department units responded to an RV parked on 9th SW between SW Barton and SW Henderson after a caller requested medical help. Seattle Fire radioed that the woman was an "obvious DOA" and called for the Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death. The caller told dispatchers they had last seen her alive the night before.
What police are doing
Seattle police have not publicly identified the woman or released a cause of death while the Medical Examiner investigates. The department's blotter notes that detectives typically take over in suspicious-death cases and ask the public for tips. Per the SPD blotter, anyone with potentially relevant information can call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
Neighborhood context
The death comes as Highland Park continues to be a focal point in the city's debates over RV camping and homelessness. The West Seattle Blog has reported on plans for the Glassyard Commons site at 7201 2nd Avenue SW, which is slated to include about 72 RV spaces and 20 tiny houses. City officials say the project is intended to move people off the street and connect them with services.
What to watch
Investigators say more information will be released after the Medical Examiner completes the examination and police finish processing the scene. This story will be updated if Seattle police or the Medical Examiner's Office provide additional details.
