Human skeletal remains found in wooded area of Federal Way
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Police are investigating after human skeletal remains were found in a heavily wooded area in Federal Way near the Tacoma city border.
Cathy Schrock, spokeswoman for the Federal Way police, said a young boy playing in the woods found a bone Thursday and brought it home. His parents called 911, and police took custody of the bone Thursday night. On examination it was found to be a suspected human femur.
On Friday a law enforcement team searched the wooded area, near the 36000 block of 20th Avenue SW, and found human remains about 100 feet from where the child found the femur.
Schrock said said the remains have "been at the location for a significant amount of time."
She said the bones are possibly an adult male. Due to the deteriorated condition of the remains there will be no way to determine additional identifiers or cause of death until the King County Medical Examiner has had time to analyze them in the lab, Schrock said.
The Federal Way Police Department Criminal Investigations Section is leading the investigation.
"The removal of the remains will take a significant amount of time and just started after 1 p.m. (Friday)," Schrock said. "Integrity of the crime scene is of upmost important at this time."
Cathy Schrock, spokeswoman for the Federal Way police, said a young boy playing in the woods found a bone Thursday and brought it home. His parents called 911, and police took custody of the bone Thursday night. On examination it was found to be a suspected human femur.
On Friday a law enforcement team searched the wooded area, near the 36000 block of 20th Avenue SW, and found human remains about 100 feet from where the child found the femur.
Schrock said said the remains have "been at the location for a significant amount of time."
She said the bones are possibly an adult male. Due to the deteriorated condition of the remains there will be no way to determine additional identifiers or cause of death until the King County Medical Examiner has had time to analyze them in the lab, Schrock said.
The Federal Way Police Department Criminal Investigations Section is leading the investigation.
"The removal of the remains will take a significant amount of time and just started after 1 p.m. (Friday)," Schrock said. "Integrity of the crime scene is of upmost important at this time."
Could this be related to the Brian Barton disappearance?
There that is better.It wasnât so hard was it?See how adding just one fact makes the article make sense.
@oldster70Do you see that it's impossible for a news organization to have instantaneous access to all facts? Â Skeletal remains being discovered is something that should be reported whether you have any idea how they were discovered or not. Stories evolve as new information is gleaned. Â Maybe try having a little patience before criticizing. Â Just a thought.
I read the article and immediately guessed it was written by KOMO.Checking the headline proved me correct.No information, no research, on effort.First why was an officer walking around 300 feet in side a heavily wooded area?Did he/she just wake up and think; you know I bet there is a body back in those woods?They are calling it a crime scene, is that because they always investigate something like this as a crime until proven otherwise (good idea), or do they have information like a confession?It is a bit far for someone just wanting to relieve themselves.Mushroom pickers are out because this not the season, and they donât find bodies, they get lost but are usually found the next day.That leaves the two usual suspects.Kids playing, or someone walking their dog.Personally, I like the idea of a police officer sitting bolt up in bed saying OMG there is a body in those woods.After eating a nice large breakfast, checking in at the station, stopping at the doughnut shop, and driving out to the spot, he walks back 300 feet and starts looking, eventually finding bones at 10:30.Yup that sounds about right.Never mind KOMO, I donât need you.I figured it out by myself.
ÂThe article quite clearly says that a boy found a femur while playing in the woods and reported it to police. Read better next time.
@jaolson28His comment was made before the story was updated. If you look at the top of the story it will tell you when the story was first publish and when it was updated.Â
@jaolson28Â Not everyone looks at that, it should be in where everyone reads.Â
@Just my say It tells you exactly when it was last updated at the top of the story. Â
@jaolson28Â No that is not what I think but when the story is updated, they should make a comment that it was. To many people get treated wrongly because not everyone looks up at the time it posted and updated. I think if they showed a little bit more respect for their bloggers, they would not get disrespect from them.Â
@Just my say So you think that they update stories because people demand it, rather than they simply got more information on it?  You don't see anything wrong with criticizing the lack of details of a story that barely an hour or two old? Â
People are so caught up in getting instant information, but that's just not how this stuff works. Â They don't have all the answers instantaneously, they don't know what the police want them to report and what they don't want them to report, they might not know what is rumor and what is fact etc... Â Journalism takes time. Â Demanding instant answers is just silly, and demonstrates a lack of knowledge about how journalism actually works.
@jaolson28 The story would have read differently. There would have been almost no information on why the cop was looking in the woods. Komo has this thing about posting a story without all the information in it. Someone will then ask what, how, and why questions. The story gets updated and everyone will think that person is a dumba** that did not read the story. They have done it to me and to others.Â
@Just my say @jaolson28 Great.  How exactly does that justify his criticisms?
Too much caffiene today? Read the article again, this time CAREFULLY.
@Dieseldog Oldster is probably responding to the information that was in the article before it was updated with the latest info at 3:47. That's a very common event on KOMO, most of us are aware that it happens and don't get nasty with the OP.
@Dieseldog My guess, since his user name is oldster70, is that he's a grouchy old guy with nothing better to do. But, I could be wrong...
Thats fine, but why not be patient and wait for more info, instead of writing a book about what we dont know.
Seriously people, I've lived in Federal Way for 25 years and it is a good area for the most part depending on where you live. As for this particular neighborhood it is a family neighborhood with middle class nice homes that I actually live in. My neighborhood is not by any means ghetto or ever experienced things like this before. This area is a green belted woody area backed up to houses on the bpa trail on the end that doesn't get much traffic by people so someone could have easily just dumped a body. Maybe you should get your facts before you start dumping on a whole commuity you obviously know nothing about. Â
@citygirl It could have been a body dump or it could have been just an ordinary citizen walking along and then suffering a heart attack. Or any of several different scenarios without any foul play.
No doubt the victim is probably someone who bought into Bakedview's belief that its safer to be unarmed because you might hurt yourself or others. Sad.Â
@NW-Economist Hooray more people making things about guns.Â
@EÂ @NW-EconomistWhen there's bills sitting in the state legislature that are trying to make more people into the corpse you're reading about in the story, its already about guns.Â
@Robinsnest Correction:  I was responding to NW-Economist
@Robinsnest I responded to your assertion that people don't die of natural causes in the woods by pointing out what a ridiculous assertion that is.  Do homeless people not die of natural causes in the woods?  That's a yes or no question, in case you have trouble understanding it.  This man may very well have been murdered.  A firearm may have been able to save his life, or may not have been able to.  He may have been a homeless guy that had a heart attack, or an 18 year old heroin addict that snuck into the woods and overdosed.  The reality is that neither you, nor I, nor anyone else has any freaking idea how he died.  So maybe you should put your gun agenda on hold and wait until we see what he actually died from. Is that really so hard for you to do?
@jaolson28 Well now you suggested "homeless" so now it's an agenda on helping the homeless make sure they don't die in the woods alone.
Homeless people die in wooded areas all the time. How about we actually let an investigation happen before we decide to use this guys death for your own personal agenda.
@EYou must be young to think people just die naturally and hide their own bodies in a wooded area.Â
@NW-Economist Pretty sure weapons are not mentioned anywhere besides your post.Â
Every time I drive by there I wonder how often this happens... Â Especially since it's, you know, Felony Way.
I live in this area, and I can tell you that it's mostly an extremely quiet upper middle class neighborhood. Any crime is quite rare in this area. The reality is that Federal Way, like every other city, has it's bad neighborhoods and good ones.
"...it's mostly an extremely quiet upper middle class neighborhood."
I notice you said mostly. Is there something you're not telling us? I've driven near the area a few times and if I typed this address correctly in Google then it has a lot of apartments and bars near it. Also I recall someone was shot dead there a few years ago.
@jaolson28 I'll address the "zinging" that you say I did. I posted my opinion as what this forum is about. I wasn't feeling too much in the mood for long drawn out explanations as this one is looking to become, so I made my opinion short. I don't need to google crime statistics, street views of the area, neighborhood home values or anything of the sort. I have driven into that area many many times during the past 20 years and from the sketchy people I see on the streets, hanging around the car wash, driving around, walking their 6 kids down the road in a broken down stroller while pregnant and smoking, that place would never be on my list of possible locations to buy let alone rent. Okay, so maybe down the street tucked hidden near the woods is a neighborhood of middle aged or older people who have lived there their entire lives, however when they choose to venture out of their little "shire" it's an adventure not even Frodo would take. With that said, every area has it's potential to have a killing or two. We learned that with the tragedy of Connecticut last December. Just because I posted a couple of "zings" as you call them, doesn't mean I am just pulling crap out of my arse to piss off anyone on here. I don't know, perhaps you believe that you are the only person that uses technology to research something however just because one-liners are posted doesn't mean there isn't any truth to them. But here's a bit of information though that I will give you that you won't find on google. I have been using the internet now for 17 years to research and find things(before google even) for other people from items they are looking to buy(homes, land, autos etc.. to lost relatives(whether from adoption to just can't find uncle Harry) to criminal records(which some have turned my stomach) etc.... So don't assume the short posts are because someone is ignorant and doesn't know how to use google. You may love your little area of heaven, however for many they have seen better(but then again what is better for some may not be for others) and wouldn't pay any amount to live there.Â
@Robinsnest @citygirl
You have no idea what you are talking about. You don't know how old I am or where I've lived, been or seen in my life. I was makimg a simple comment to someone assuming things about a particular area
@swansong68
I wasn't saying anything negative about section 8 or people that are lower income. I was making a comment to the person who was just assuming what this area was like and it pissed me off because this is my neighborhood. Lots of good people live in section 8 and low income so that comment was not targeting anyone. I know many people including some of my own family who live in low income housing. I apologize if it came off that way.
@Robinsnest By the way if you'd bother using the information technology at your fingertips, you could look up average home values in the neighborhood.  You could look up the crime rates for the direct area...you could ever use google street view to see what kind of neighborhood it actually is.  It isn't that hard.  You might actually learn something (as terrifying as that might be for you.)
@Robinsnest The upside of the internet is the fact that we all have incredible amounts of information at our fingertips.  The downside of the internet is the fact that there is an incredible amount of ignorant, childish morons that gain some weird sense of gratification from "zinging" people anonymously. Â
You can have your childish trolling. Â I'll take my nice crime free Federal Way neighborhood.
@jaolson28 Wow, overpriced homes! And people pay that now to live there?
@citygirl If you grew up there and raised your kids there then you really don't have anything to compare it to so you think it's fine but for others that have seen better, they know more.
I agree. Low income families have to live as well.  As I said earlier, I wouldn't really want to be walking around say, West Way at night, I certainly know that there are good people living there as well. When I was in high school I did some volunteer work with Federal Way Youth and Family services and had a chance to meet some of the families that live there. They were all very wonderful people.
@citygirl I bet there are people who live in section 8 housing with families they care about too. Pretty sure not all of them are as you say " thug ridden, drug infested, low income section 8 apartment driven" A little sensitivity for those less fortunate than you would be nice. You don't seem to like people running their mouth off about where you live.
@Dischage I've lived in Federal Way for over 25 years, and this area isn't a bad area. Places I wouldn't want to be at night: Development in SW 333-334th and 21st Ave (used to be West Way, don't know what it is now), and really most of the apartment complexes on 1st Ave S. and Pac. Hwy. I like my neighborhood. I know my neighbors well, and it has a strong sense of community.Â
I agree with citygirl, though I'd add that it's pretty bad around the 21st and 336th area. I feel safe enough at the stores there, but the westway neighborhood is a place I wouldn't want to be at night.
Amen!! I normally don't comment on these things but some of these comments were driving me crazy haha. Especially when the neighborhood I live is is being called ghetto and its far from it. People need to know what their taking about before they start commenting
Low income and section 8 apartments? You seriously have no clue what you are talking about. The area where this body was found is surrounded by $300,000 - $400,000 dollars homes.Â
Yes, I'm a part of a giant conspiracy scheming to protect the criminal element in this upper middle class neighborhood... I said mostly, because virtually nowhere is crime free. The bar where the shooting happened (Johnny's Bar and Grill) isn't located anywhere near where this body was found. And in the end, you don't live there. I do. I know what I'm talking about. You don't.
its certain areas mainly north Federal Way heading into Des Moines and Burien like 288th I would definitely stay away from. That area is low income section 8, drug infested gang banger area. The crime investigation van is actually parked in my drive way and the police are using my back yard to get to this area. I'm not too thrilled about this but what do you do? what I'm concerned about is the fact little kids play back in that wooded area and woman walk through there at night with their dogs or alone to get excercise.
Excuse me then, I must've mistaken the address. Which areas would you not live in in FW? Is it just the apartments or entire streets as well?
not in the area this has happened in. Further into town yes there are a few spots like that. I live in the neighborhood this has happened in. the body is actually not that far from my back yard. i think i know what i'm talking about. also the fact I grew up in Federal Way since I was a little kid and have raised my children there. I know which areas to not live in and this neighborhood is not a thug ridden, drug infested, low income section 8 apartment driven area. It is a fairly new housing develepment that sits on the king/pierce county border with tons of children and families.
I'm saying there's a lot of thugs near that area, which doesn't help the fact that there are a lot of low-income and section 8 apartments there.
the shooting you are referring to is 15 minute drive down the road that was related to people that came up from Kent and got into an arguement out in a parking lot in a strip mall area. Federal Way is a good area and doesn't have as much crime as Burien or Tacoma has. This area where this happened is a residential area and isnt' next to bars or apartments. There are some down the road once you cross over to the Pierce County boarder but this area that this happened is a family community
@Kramula I'm often left wondering at comments like these. Federal Way is easily one of the nicest, cleanest cities I've ever been to, on a long list of them, major and small, around the world. As with all, it has its lesser areas, but it's no South-Central Los Angeles, East Tacoma, South Seattle, Burien, Chicago, Osaka, London, Queens, anywhere Idaho, Spokane, Everett, etc.Â
@Hadrian Agreed, it's no Compton, it's no Baltimore, it's definitely not Detroit.
But having worked there, it seems to have more than its share of gang bangers, petty thieves and meth-heads.
@Kramula @Hadrian I lived there for a time.....was very glad to get out and move back to Pierce Co. It may not compare to Chicago with it's 500+ murders a year but it is pretty bad. Saw more crime there than I've seen anywhere else in WA....