UPDATE: Police response at Duwamish Head – ‘human remains’ confirmed

(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)

5:31 PM: Thanks for the tips about the big police response in the 1100 block of Alki Avenue. Radio communication indicated a report of “possible human remains” in the water; so far, we are told at the scene, nothing definitive – they are still searching.

5:48 PM: What they HAVE found, so far, is a black plastic bag that smelled really bad. That’s why they are searching further, to look for potential contents.

6:35 PM: Police boats are still there, searching.

(Photo sent by Stewart L.)

8:08 PM: Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson confirms to WSB that they did find “human remains.” Several bags, according to a subsequent SPD Blotter post.

9:46 PM: Identification and cause of death will be up to the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine.

12:28 PM: Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo above – he says police were back out checking around the Luna Park area this morning (low tide was just after 11). We headed out in hopes of catching them but they were gone by the time we got there. Also gone, the yellow tape; the Luna/Anchor Park viewpoint is open again.

SUNDAY NOTE: As discussed in comments, TikTok users who say they made the original discovery – showing a suitcase on the rocks by Luna/Anchor Park – have posted videos about it. They say police didn’t respond to their original report until repeated calls hours later. We will be following up on that too (and, as noted in comments, would be interested in talking with anybody who has firsthand knowledge – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!).

123 Replies to "UPDATE: Police response at Duwamish Head - 'human remains' confirmed"

  • Anna June 19, 2020 (6:08 pm)

    My kids and I were driving Alki when we happened upon the scene. We saw SPD zipping someone (or something) into a full-size black body bag. And over the radio they talked about sweeping the scene. So much for taking the kids to the beach. My condolences to whoever it may be. 

    • WSB June 19, 2020 (6:20 pm)

      Only a plastic bag at last report but I’m sure it will be tested.

    • Nicki June 19, 2020 (6:52 pm)

      Body bags are usually white, not black. So hopefully good news.

      • Kersti June 19, 2020 (9:40 pm)

        Remains were found in the bags. They aren’t coroner issued body bags 

      • Dave June 20, 2020 (8:27 am)

        I’ve seen white, black, and blue body bags.  I don’t think they are limited in color.  Not sure why the different colors, perhaps manufacturer(?) 

      • Francesca June 20, 2020 (9:12 am)

        Body bags/cadaver bags are a very thick black infused plastic . The bags that were found were trash type bags however actual body bags are made of a very black and thick infused plastic.

      • Ghostface June 20, 2020 (9:57 pm)

        Usually when you kill someone and dispose of their body, its in trash bags, not traditional body bags that the coroner would bring to the scene.

        • Penny wise June 22, 2020 (4:43 pm)

          Definitely have to agree with ya sounds more like they needed to put the garbage bags of human remains in something . Most  likely they put those bags in a cadaver bag to transport But hey maybe they got a cadaver bag serial killer on the loose and we should be really worried about the color bags the bodies go into could be a clue aye lol

        • Killa June 23, 2020 (9:49 am)

          Maybe that is just ‘your’ preference…

      • Phil June 21, 2020 (7:33 am)

        All the body bags I’ve seen are black.

        • Laurie June 26, 2020 (10:22 am)

          Im actually an er nurse and we have white body bags

      • Janiehbh June 21, 2020 (12:41 pm)

        Not true. There are 2 types. White is for a body that isn’t decomposed or no trauma. Black or blue are for the said above. (Worked a a funeral home for years) 

        • Kpotjen June 21, 2020 (6:40 pm)

          My mom passed from cancer at home and the funeral home arrived right after she passed. They used black to transport her. I know because they allowed us to say goodbye one last time after bringing her to the garage where they backed into for privacy purposes. I’ll never forget that day or every moment. 

          • Rhonda June 21, 2020 (7:44 pm)

            my mom passed away at home and Edward’s came and took her in a thick white bag.

        • Julia June 21, 2020 (9:46 pm)

          It just depends. My city uses black bags. I literally watched them take a neighbours body out of his home after he overdosed and he had not been decomposing. 

          • Elana Marello June 22, 2020 (7:55 pm)

            I saw a red one once

          • Bigron July 8, 2020 (5:34 pm)

            Seen several colors over my years in the funeral industry, but red usually means there’s something extra hazardous. But, again, all over the country sometimes you just use what’s available and tag the body and the outside of the bag for any potential issues.

    • Thanh June 21, 2020 (10:35 am)

      I came here from a video I saw on Tik Tok, they did find human remains in the suitcase and several black plastic bags. 

  • Michael June 19, 2020 (6:25 pm)

    Just rode my bicycle by there about half an hour ago.  Didn’t know what was going on but knew WSB would fill me in.

  • Rocky Bullwinkle June 19, 2020 (6:43 pm)

    Is this related to a recent rescue response where teams set up by marination and anchor park? It was a pretty large response.

  • Lagartija Nick June 19, 2020 (9:35 pm)

    Interesting that this happens right after the story of the uncooperative man in the boat rescue from last night. Hope it’s just a coincidence.

    • Alki resident June 19, 2020 (10:22 pm)

      Oh snap, you’re right. I’m sure they took his name down. This is crazy. 

  • Blankman June 19, 2020 (10:26 pm)

     last nights responce to the uncooperative boater. I think coincidence is too convenient of a word.

    • WSB June 19, 2020 (10:31 pm)

      It wasn’t last night, it was two nights ago.
      https://westseattleblog.com/2020/06/water-rescue-response-off-duwamish-head/

      • Josie June 25, 2020 (3:56 pm)

        The article you link to as a 6/18 1:22am timestamp. 

        • WSB June 26, 2020 (4:07 pm)

          Yes, which was Wednesday night (technically Thursday morning), two nights before this report (Friday evening).

    • Ws resident June 19, 2020 (10:44 pm)

      So what are you saying? The ‘would-be’ rescuers, or the coast guard responders killed said person and apparently put them in bags of some sort? The WSB story Linked above says ‘ the boat and boater were located’ Have some RESPECT for the dead! Conspiracy theories should NOT be tolerated here! 

      • Alki resident June 20, 2020 (2:14 am)

        WS Resident what we’re saying is, the uncooperative man in the boat may have been the one who dumped the bags. Seems pretty logical to me, not a conspiracy theorist. 

      • PAtti O. June 20, 2020 (7:09 am)

        Or MAYBE they meant the uncooperative boater was caught in the act of potentially nefarious doings…?Your conspiracy theory should not be tolerated.

      • Ummm June 20, 2020 (7:16 am)

        ???? The implication people are theorizing on in the posts above was clearly that the boater was acting suspiciously because he/she was dumping a body.  It’s not out of the realm of possibilities given the location.  Seems like you are the one with an active imagination, comparatively.

        • Frank Frivilous June 20, 2020 (12:06 pm)

          Crime gets solved when someone follows up on Conspiracy theories. We have an unfortunate backlog of unsolved crimes due to fearful people.

      • Oh brother June 20, 2020 (7:56 am)

        I think people are wondering if their might be a correlation between the boater and the bodies. Maybe they were on the boat at one time….? Perhaps he was getting rid of them and that’s why he was upset. Just a theory but you are right, we shouldn’t theorize since we aren’t investigators. 

      • Sam-c June 20, 2020 (8:01 am)

        I don’t think they were implying the Coast Guard did harm, but possibly the uncooperative boater didn’t want to cooperative because they were up to no good, possibly dropping off the bags in question.

      • wsbliss June 20, 2020 (8:04 am)

        I believe the concern is related to the fact that the uncooperative boater was in the same area where the bags were found, so s/he was perhaps uncooperative because s/he had just dumped bags of body parts into Puget Sound.

      • Chris June 20, 2020 (9:16 am)

        More like, the owner of the boat dumped the black bags off the shore and the rescue boat responded to a boat in distress. Boat owner was uncooperative because he had just dumped the bags and didn’t want to be found out. (Theory)

      • newnative June 20, 2020 (9:20 am)

        WS Resident, heed your own advice there. That’s not what they were saying at all. The description of the bags suggest that the human remains had been decomposing, so  not that recent of a murder. I think they were suggesting that the uncooperative boater may have been the one doing the dumping. that’s the coincidence. However, we also know that things wash up in different parts of the sound and this victim could be from another place.     

      • valvashon June 20, 2020 (9:34 am)

        Holy jump ahead Batman!  I’m pretty sure that the previous three posters were thinking that the uncooperative boater was dumping the body, not was being dumped.  I know when I’m tossing trash bags filled with body parts out of my boat in the sound I don’t want the cops around.

    • Kj June 20, 2020 (9:03 am)

      Yeah no. If the bag smelled that body has been in there far longer than that. Obviously.

      • SJ June 20, 2020 (12:39 pm)

        FWIW – it was pretty smelly under the anchor park pier last week too. We assumed it was your usual low tide aroma, but now I am not so sure. 

        • Daniel June 20, 2020 (2:43 pm)

          I think it’s always really smelly in an area next to the Alki beach where there are some kind of sewer vents blowing off gas (which btw always seems incredible to me that those smelly vents should be in such a public area).

      • Ratofficianado June 21, 2020 (9:19 pm)

        Nah, man. Have you ever smelled a dead rat? They smell like no tomorrow within an hour of death, large breed dogs similar. Human remains are not likely different than that, especially with how warm it has been lately.

    • Shuba July 2, 2020 (5:17 pm)

      Yeah just read the article, the person was having boat troubles two nights before at 1:20 am. They were having trouble with the boat possibly getting grounded, were uncooperative and all this is happening the night after they say both of the victims would have been shot? Yeah hope they look into that one.  Not many boaters going around that time of night and not many who would be uncooperative with the coast guard. 

  • A June 19, 2020 (10:41 pm)

    Will you be able to retrieve more info from the medical examiner’s office? 

    • WSB June 19, 2020 (10:50 pm)

      If/when they have ID/cause info. We’ll of course follow up with SPD too.

      • A June 19, 2020 (10:52 pm)

        Thank you so much!

  • Rebekah June 19, 2020 (11:07 pm)

    I just can’t believe this. I am in Alki Beach like every other day with my mask because it is close and I’m trying to get fresh air even though nobody wears a mask and I have three musicians. This is horrifying to me. I am a woman alone walking by myself and this is horrifying.

    • Gretchen June 20, 2020 (4:13 am)

      Walking alone?  What about those three musicians you’ve got??  :0)

    • j June 20, 2020 (7:45 am)

      good thing you have 3 musicians with you!

    • Elaine Hulse June 21, 2020 (1:53 pm)

      Did anyone else read American Predator?  

  • ScubaFrog June 19, 2020 (11:49 pm)

    How awful and sad.  Naturally my condolences go to friends and family.  It’s rather terrifying that remains were found in a bag, unless there’s some non-criminal explanation..  

    • A June 20, 2020 (12:41 am)

      Scuba, how could human remains in more than one bag NOT  be a Criminal reason? They were put there by someone, and don’t belong there.

      • ScubaFrog June 20, 2020 (11:52 am)

        I agree, which is terrifying.  There’s no non-criminal explanation.  

    • Krs June 20, 2020 (12:16 pm)

      Lol. I would love to hear a theory where human remains in a trash bag don’t sound like a criminal act. I’ve got time. 

      • Lamont June 20, 2020 (2:36 pm)

        Divers do find cremated remains somewhat frequently, but that usually looks like ashes in urns, and that would certainly have not caused this kind of response.  The body parts might not be human, but then why not toss them in a landfill or something since nobody cares.At the same time dumping a body in shallow water by Luna park is remarkably stupid.  There’s 500 to 900 foot deep water if you just head out in the sound a little bit.The thing that makes the most sense to me is that this is a human body.  The person was putting the boat in at Luna park at night to not attract any attention.  The boat then had issues so they weren’t able to head out to the deeper water in the sound, people spotted the boat in distress, and when the 911 response happened for them they panicked about the boat being searched and tossed the remains overboard.  Which seems like great start to an episode of Law and Order, you just need some kind of procedural twist.Honestly though you have to remember reddit and the case of the Boston Bombers and how armchair detectives nearly ruined innocent people’s lives.  We can kick ideas around, but we don’t know anything.

      • Daniel June 20, 2020 (2:45 pm)

        Some kind of funeral or medical examination lost their cargo..? Not even slightly likely but who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

  • Vy June 20, 2020 (12:38 am)

    Yesterday we were walking around the other side of Alki, and we found what looked like the top of a femur. I assumed it was a dog bone, but I also jokingly said, “Hey, hold that up to your hip, it looks people sized.” Now I’m totally weirded out.

    • Surf June 20, 2020 (5:32 am)

      If you are serious, please share this info with SPD.

    • Emily June 20, 2020 (6:25 am)

      You should report that to police

    • Patti O June 20, 2020 (7:03 am)

      So… you might want to share this with the investigators.

    • Lauren June 20, 2020 (9:27 am)

      hey VY, you might want to report that bone, it might be useful info

    • C June 20, 2020 (9:52 am)

      If you haven’t already you should let the police or investigators know where you saw this.

      • Number 41 June 20, 2020 (10:59 am)

        And go to the location you found it and show them !!!  Was there saw marks ? machined? Or hand sawn? or did it appear broken? did you take a pic? This could be significant ! Or not ….. but nothing should be considered a coincidence in a case like this. The un-cooperative boater should be at least be a person of interest. a quick review of time stamps show 6/19 1:30ish ? am……  so certainly in the same area near the same time. May be nothing. The only color of body bag that hasn’t yet been mention in OD green…… why are we worried about bag color… Or associating smell with how old or when a crime may have been committed…. maybe the deep freezer stopped working a couple weeks ago….. this may be ??? Years old or associated with a recent missing person. If the bags were weighed down and with what, is more significant than the bag itself, and if any were recovered by scuba on the bottom, this is a very shallow area out to the marker bouy. You would have to be, let say less than a 60 iq to drop anything there, where you can walk out 500 ft from shore during a low June tide. No replies are necessary here, just open minds

        • Lamont June 20, 2020 (2:38 pm)

          Take a deep breath and just encourage the person who saw it to report it.

        • Thaddeus June 21, 2020 (8:36 pm)

          41, with your brains and my gut, I think we crack this case wide open.

    • Anne June 20, 2020 (12:47 pm)

      Vy: did you report?  Often times people post here and dont report. Please do. Just call 911 and they will route your call to the right person.

    • Alki Resident June 20, 2020 (1:54 pm)

      Hey Vy, what area around the other side of Alki are you referring to? Beach Drive? My dog keeps stopping at a certain location over there and pauses and looks at me strangely like he’s trying to tell me something. 

    • Daniel June 20, 2020 (2:47 pm)

      Report it. I’m sure the investigators wouldn’t mind checking it out even if it’s nothing.

    • Isabelle helland July 3, 2020 (4:47 am)

      This is the victims cousin. Please do report this to the police. It could be a piece of evidence which could help catch the sick eastward that has done this to my baby cousin. Please I’m begging u. Thanks.

  • REBEKAH June 20, 2020 (12:38 am)

    I just can’t believe this. I am in Alki Beach like every other day with my mask because it is close and I’m trying to get fresh air even though nobody wears a mask and I have three IMMUNE CONDITIONS (not musicians which was a typo). This is horrifying to me. I am a woman alone walking by myself and this is horrifying.

  • REBEKAH June 20, 2020 (12:39 am)

    **Correction to typo: Not “Musicians” like I said above (typo) but THREE IMMUNE CONDITIONS. – Thank you, Rebekah

    • Jess June 20, 2020 (6:13 pm)

      oh Rebekah, your original message was so serious and I feel (and understand) your anxiety.  But that typo kinda made my day.  To have a giggle these days is such a reprieve.  Be safe out there.

  • Friendo June 20, 2020 (3:44 am)

    We all end up in black plastic bags.

  • Randal L Hall June 20, 2020 (4:12 am)

    Thanks for explaining the “musicians” statement, I was confused. 

  • waikikigirl June 20, 2020 (6:43 am)

    Don’t let life’s fears keep you from enjoying life, life is too short!

  • Willow June 20, 2020 (7:44 am)

    You should report that to the police. 

  • WearAMask June 20, 2020 (9:29 am)

    Hi Rebekah- I know this is off subject but I feel for you regarding the selfish folks not wearing masks. I’m trying to stay healthy for my mom who had a stroke and absolutely can’t go out and all I see are people with no regard for their fellow humans. Hang in there. They’ve mandated masks usage in part of Texas and in California and it’s only a matter of time before they are required in Washington. I never  imagined that people would actively disregard such a basic precaution, especially in a city that supposed to be the most highly educated in the country but here we are. It’s mind boggling.

  • John June 20, 2020 (9:49 am)

    Rebekah, Please avoid the throngs of Alki as I do.  I consider that I will inevitably have  contacts and exposures on Alki easily avoided by walking, running or biking in our largely empty residential streets and green spaces . These options afford more distancing and avoidance of contact than our too-popular  beach destinations. At 67, I meet just one risk criteria, but I recognize that  anytime I go out, I increase my exposure (and possible exposure to others).  When I ride my bike along the Alki bike path, I appreciate this sublime Seattle experience as a ‘treat,’ and not one that I indulge in daily.   Summer and relaxing of regulations will bring increasing throngs to Alki with attendant exposure risks.  Please, let’s all work together and persevere with necessary sacrifices and inconveniences to escape this far from over pandemic/nightmare.

    • Kathy June 20, 2020 (12:59 pm)

      Those who refuse to wear a face covering on the multi-use Alki Trail are sending this message: If you are immune compromised or in a high risk category for infection, your right to enjoy the trail safely is less than my right to not take the simple precaution of covering my face.  If you claim that Black Lives Matter and don’t follow public health guidance, you are a hypocrite because this virus you are so cavalier about is disproportionately harming people of color. It is astounding to me the high percentage of people who are walking, running and biking on the trail ignoring public health guidance.  Because of this I have taken to biking on the street for my essential trips, where I have the other unsafe option of competing with reckless speeding drivers.

      • Ex Seattleite June 25, 2020 (9:05 am)

        I’m in NY these days (sorry but we had the real problem due to urban density, reliance on cramped mass transit and demographics as the major contributor, all favorites of left leaning politicians and urban planners, cuz why not make the post political as well ;) ) , seeing as we have had it worse over here relax.  But back to the bags… Oh wait, our governor allowed an additional + – 5000 deaths because he sent the sick to stay in nursing homes.  Killing innocent elderly with bad policies wasn’t even hidden in bags or dumped at night over a boat.  Not as intriguing or entertaining as the comments here but relax,  it’s the west Seattle blog and (wind)bags like this don’t come around every day.  

  • Friend O'Dinghus June 20, 2020 (11:00 am)

    If I am outdoors, and in a situation/place/environment where my social distancing efforts can be involuntarily compromised in seconds, then I either wear the mask and stay, or I wear the mask long enough to extricate myself from said situation/place/environment. The social distancing is the determining factor.

  • Wes C. Addle June 20, 2020 (11:06 am)

    Yep.  Exactly, outdoor mask use is not necessary unless you’re packed real tight (like a protest or Rally) going down the bike path at Alki may seem crowded, but it really isn’t.  People are moving. 

  • anonyme June 20, 2020 (11:54 am)

    Can we try to stay focused?  There are plenty of stories and threads on Covid-19 and mask-wearing.  This one is about a human being who has been chopped into pieces and dumped in garbage bags, creating a whole new level of concern.

    • WSB June 20, 2020 (12:42 pm)

      PLEASE note that we do NOT have ANY information indicating that a “human being .. has been chopped into pieces.” The police usage of the term “human remains” can, and has been used to, mean a wide variety of things, even an intact body, or something far less than, well, parts. Unfortunately, it’s a weekend, and getting details from the actual report is unlikely before Monday. As added above, police were back at the area during this morning’s low tide but have now cleared – TR

      • Kris June 20, 2020 (1:43 pm)

        I think someone might have been watching alittle too much Dexter. 

      • Daniel June 20, 2020 (2:50 pm)

        The bag I saw looked like it was full human sized. Like a body that had been zipped up.

        • WSB June 20, 2020 (3:47 pm)

          During the investigation one responder asked another (as heard via radio exchange) if they were carrying a “body bag.” So that MAY have been what the other bag(s) were eventually placed in. Again, few actual facts so far, but here’s hoping for more info in time.

  • Tuwanda June 20, 2020 (12:11 pm)

    How did this tragic, disturbing story lead to a politically charged and divisive issue about wearing a mask at Alki Beach?

    • Kathy June 20, 2020 (1:01 pm)

      It’s not a political issue, Tuwanda.

    • Richard June 20, 2020 (2:34 pm)

      If you think this is divisive it’s only because you’ve decided to ignore the unanimous advise of nearly every health agency in the known world by declining to wear a mask.  Act foolishly if you want but don’t expect others to respect your ignorance.  

  • HappyOnAlki June 20, 2020 (12:31 pm)

    Not dog-walking? Gee, thanks, Steve.

  • mel spiker June 20, 2020 (1:03 pm)

    i just read how crime in w seattle has gone down by a third since w sea br closed … then this, like a half hour after i read that on my neighborhood app.  this world is a trip, what’s going on people?  BE A GOOD HUMAN!  

  • Morgan June 20, 2020 (1:45 pm)

    Sounds like the Same MO as the bay harbor butcher. I think he retired to Oregon some where. Could he have moved up north?

  • Alki Resident June 20, 2020 (2:22 pm)

     I live across the street. I smelled something nasty when I opened my front door Thursday morning.The body bag was opaque and then that was placed inside of a black bag.  in case anyone is wondering about the color of the bag still.The prior Thursday was opening day of shrimp season and there were a lot of boats out there. I’m kind of thinking that somebody dumped the body parts that day and then they washed up here a week later. 

    • Star June 20, 2020 (5:30 pm)

      How many people who were shrimping and ate those shrimp have now lost their cookies after hearing reading all of this ?!

  • LG June 20, 2020 (2:50 pm)

    I appreciate all of the speculation, conspiracy theories, and off topic comments. Gave me a few minutes of amateur sleuth entertainment. I will be interested in discovering what happens. 

    • LCM June 20, 2020 (8:55 pm)

      Me too!  While this is both horrific and tragic, the blog thread is epic.

      • Xana La Fuente June 22, 2020 (8:57 am)

        I am afraid to even look at the comments here but it looks to be pretty epic lol 

  • Guy June 20, 2020 (3:51 pm)

    I sure hope they’ll be able to identify the remains to give closure to the family/families. A group of friends and I rode bicycles by there on Thursday evening. 

  • Alex June 20, 2020 (9:28 pm)

    There’s a TikTok video circulating that shows when the “remains” were found by a group of late teens/20 somethings. A black suitcase was sitting on top of the rocks next to the Luna Park pier; they opened the suitcase and acknowledged how badly it smelled; all you could see was a black trash bag that appeared to be full and “stuffed” in the suitcase. I don’t believe they opened the trash bag, they just called the police. Assuming this is the real footage of the actual remains that were found, it’s deeply disturbing this happened. 

  • Krs June 21, 2020 (12:11 am)

    I dont know if it’s fake or not, but apparently a few teenagers made a tik-tok of them finding the black bag inside of a black suitcase at alki. Any word, @wsb, if the original person to report was a young girl?

    • WSB June 21, 2020 (12:16 am)

      Several people have tried to post that link here; if it’s real, it does not meet our publication standards. I have no way to verify until seeing the police report. When we first heard about this Friday evening, we heard nothing about who reported it, nor about a suitcase – but that doesn’t rule anything out, as very few details were made available in general. If anyone reading this knows, or is, one of the people in the TikTok video, perhaps you could contact us to verify – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks.

  • Z00 June 21, 2020 (8:32 am)

    My son showed me a video of kids that allegedly found this that is going around kids social media. Shows them walking down under a pier like structure toward a suitcase. They note that there was a strong odor. Over several cuts, they unzip and open the suitcase with a stick. Inside was a large black trash bag. Once open, they note a release of a much greater odor. The video then shows one of them calling 911, and another cut to police there responding. I assume if this video is legitimate, it has been shared with police already. 

    • WSB June 21, 2020 (9:31 am)

      That’s the one I viewed (if my comment wasn’t clear enough that pronouncing it not meeting our standards – we don’t show bodies, bagged or otherwise – was based on seeing it) and it seems to have been circulated VERY widely on TikTok, for which I had to sign up in order to read through the comments. Have not yet heard from anyone involved, but it’s Sunday…

      • Jacqueline June 21, 2020 (3:41 pm)

        lol i signed up for tiktok yesterday for the same reason.  I heard rumors today that it was confirmed a female?  Is that just gossip or has more info been released?

        • WSB June 21, 2020 (6:10 pm)

          No new official information.

        • Isabelle helland July 3, 2020 (5:06 am)

          Yes it was a girl. It was my baby cousin thanks. This has been very hard for our family.

          • Gina Jaschke July 3, 2020 (8:51 pm)

            Isabella call me. I’m Jesse’s Aunt. I’ve talked to Detectives but there’s more that I know and I’m not sure what to do. My number is 206-271-2006. 

        • Isabelle helland July 3, 2020 (5:07 am)

          Yes it was a girl. It was my cousin

  • Jay June 21, 2020 (11:09 am)

    There is a video on twitter of the kids who found the suitcase. They go down to open it up not knowing what is inside until they unzip it and the smell hits them. Very frightening. 

  • CarCor June 21, 2020 (11:32 am)

    There was a TikTok video cross published on reddit, where I saw it, of the 4 or 5 young people walking out onto the Anchor Park Pier who found a small black suitcase on the rocks below. The zipper wasn’t closed on the suitcase and they could smell a foul odor. One girl lifted the lid of the case, and the contents, tightly wrapped in black plastic, looked exactly how you would expect human remains — or a mannequin — to look in that condition. The young girl called 911 immediately, and other than  lifting the lid on the case, didn’t touch anything. They caught it all on film too. I wonder if this is the first time a TikTok video has been useful in a police investigation. Looks like both TikTok and Reddit have removed the video. Condolences to person’s loved ones.  My heart goes out to all involved.

  • Brent June 21, 2020 (11:48 am)

    New cozy mystery novel:West Seattle blog readers come together to solve the mystery of the remains. Follow their leads, the twists and turns… and the danger. And while they investigate, two residents fall in love.

  • DiverLaura June 21, 2020 (12:36 pm)

    Having watched the TikTok video it looks to be perhaps partially staged.   I’m not sure I’d trust it completely.  At best they did find the suitcase and then ‘reshot’ the finding for effect after calling cops, at worst they staged a whole suitcase etc. for  giggles and hits.   I don’t think sharing would add anything to the discussion at hand beyond dragging it off on another tangent about zoomers, Randonauting, TikTock etc… 

    • JD June 21, 2020 (3:44 pm)

      For what it’s worth I think the tiktok videos are real because of the weather.  I work less than a mile away and it was really nice out on Friday until the evening when it got cloudy.  The west seattle blog first reported the police response at 5:30 on Friday.  The pictures of the cops on the scene were all after the weather turned cloudy.And saturday it rained all morning so it couldn’t have been staged the next day.

    • Alki resident June 21, 2020 (5:07 pm)

      Laura this video was very real. In fact one of the commenters was at the scene and said he may need help because it was hard to get it out of his head. 

  • DiverLaura June 21, 2020 (12:46 pm)

    I did find that second video (probably the ‘first’ on TikTok that supports the idea that the widly publicized video is edited for impact, and the reactions etc are much more genuine looking and it shows the tide coming in and They discuss the water dispersing the bags.  Again, it doesn’t really add much except show that kids opened the bag with sticks and the contents then were released into the water as the tide came in. 

    • WSB June 21, 2020 (1:57 pm)

      That one was just pointed out to us via Twitter and unlike the first one, it doesn’t look into the suitcase, which is the over-the-line part for us. The bigger question is the contention that police didn’t respond when originally called. That’s another reason I’d really like to talk to any of the people involved, to find out how they reported it and what they were told. Also of interest: “The lady” they say finally made the call that was responded to… TR

  • skeptic June 22, 2020 (8:37 am)

    We have entered a new reality.  My 20 year old daughter ‘shared’ the video with me, the luddite. (with no facebook, twitter, linkedin).   But the video is a brash display of irresponsibility driven by temporal spike of internet ‘fame.’  Viewing the popular posting, it  is immediately evident that it has been edited for impact and celebrity of those involved.  Parts of it appear to be ‘staged’ or ‘re-created’ at best.   No responsible news organization would publish or post such ‘content’ without verification.  Thank you WSB for not linking such obviously doctored recordings.  If unfolding events and information prove me wrong: that these kids discovered a body and decided to ‘produce  a video’ about it rather than immediately calling 911, I look forward to apologizing.  But, right now, the individuals involved in the ‘video discovery’ should identify and present  themselves to the police (if they already haven’t) and news media.  Their parents, if they have any inkling, should exercise moral and parental authority and act.  If the videos are a ‘hoax,’ what does that say about us looking at and ‘sharing’ them?  The viral posting made me feel very uncomfortable with the digital future we have entered.

    • WS REZZZ June 22, 2020 (11:08 am)

      SKEPTIC, “But, right now, the individuals involved in the ‘video discovery’ should identify and present  themselves to the police (if they already haven’t) and news media. “What are you even talking about ?? they are the ones that called the police to report it…. I think the TikTok began with not expecting to find fricken human remains but rather some hidden treasure. The video had already began when that happened and there is no way to identify the body, so they probably felt okay to share since it was so crazy/traumatic. Also there is a trend on TikTok where people sharing “something traumatic that happened to me that changed my life, checccck” which was his caption.. so felt appropriate for that trend i suppose. this is coming from a regular TikTok user :)

  • Barb June 23, 2020 (9:07 am)

    First thing I thought about when I heard about these bags, is the woman who has been missing for several years who was last seen over on Beach Dr. If my memory is correct, she still has not been found. Rebekah, there are things you can do to keep yourself safer. Don’t wear headphone when you walk so you can hear if people are behind or near you. Stay alert. Consider carrying pepper spray. Don’t walk alone after dark. Set up your cell phone so you can push one button to call 911. Be safe.

  • Caroline July 1, 2020 (1:30 pm)

    People focusing on the bags bot being coroner body bags instead of worrying about having a potential serial killer amidst us. Of course a killer is not going to dispose of a body in an official coroner material 🙄 … what’s even spookier is the fact that the murderer is still our there, and it disposed of the remains where it was going to be found. It wants to be show his work. Be so careful out there people. 

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