A decomposed body discovered in a wooded patch of north Seattle’s Matthews Beach neighborhood Thursday afternoon has prompted a full Seattle Police Department investigation.
Officers were called to the area shortly after 3 p.m., and the King County Medical Examiner was brought in to examine the remains. Because of the level of decomposition, officers at the scene could not immediately determine whether there were visible signs of trauma, and the person’s identity is still unknown.
According to KIRO 7 News Seattle, Seattle police responded to the Matthews Beach neighborhood near 35th Avenue NE just after 3 p.m. on Thursday. The outlet reports that the King County Medical Examiner was called to the scene to look for signs of trauma, and a patrol officer said the extent of decomposition made it difficult to see any obvious injuries.
What the medical examiner can do
Per the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, details about a deceased person are typically released only after identification is confirmed and next-of-kin have been notified. The office posts decedent case information on weekdays once its investigation is complete, which means it could be a while before authorities publicly share the victim’s name or list an official cause and manner of death.
Where it happened
The incident was reported in the Matthews Beach neighborhood, a mostly residential area on the north shore of Lake Washington near 35th Avenue NE. City records list Matthews Beach Park, at 9300 51st Ave NE, as the primary public green space in the neighborhood, although officers described the discovery site only as an area “near 35th NE.”
How to help investigators
Seattle police have not released further details about the death and say the case remains under active investigation. While there was no specific public plea tied to this scene as of Thursday evening, the Seattle Police Department routinely asks anyone with information about violent or suspicious deaths to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, according to the SPD Blotter.
This is a developing story and will be updated as the Seattle Police Department or the King County Medical Examiner releases more information. Further details on the person’s identity and any official statements will be added as they become available.
