A body was found in the Columbia River near the 1000 block of George Washington Way in Richland Wednesday, prompting police to close a nearby riverfront trail while emergency crews worked the scene. The discovery triggered an investigation along the waterway.
The Richland Police Department said it was investigating the discovery, according to Nonstop Local, which reported that emergency personnel were at the scene and that the investigation was ongoing. Accounts of the discovery varied: Apple Valley News Now reported that officers arrived to find a dead body in the river, while the Tri-City Herald reported that a woman was found dead on the shore of the river Wednesday afternoon.
Timeline of the Discovery
Dispatch reports placed the discovery near the recreation trail behind Porter's BBQ, close to the 1000 block of George Washington Way, at about 12:45 p.m., per the Tri-City Herald. Apple Valley News Now reported that officers responded to a report of suspicious circumstances in the river just before 1 p.m. the same day. Emergency personnel later worked to retrieve the body, according to the same Tri-City Herald report.
Emergency personnel worked to retrieve the body and carry out the investigation, the station's report noted. As of about 2:40 p.m., the Hains Levee Trail near George Washington Way remained closed while that work continued, per the same account.
Cause of Death Remains Unclear
The Richland Police Department asked people to avoid the immediate area while first responders and investigators continued their work, according to Nonstop Local. Investigators have not said how long the body had been in the water, and Apple Valley News Now reported that it was unknown whether foul play was involved. The newspaper also reported that there had been no recent reports of people missing in the water.
No further details on the woman's identity or the circumstances of her death have been released. The Richland Police Department has not issued additional updates beyond confirming that the investigation remains active.
