Unidentified Woman Found Near Vashon Island

Unidentified White Female
Case Number - 04-040219

Age Estimate - 70

Height -5'5" to 5'7"

Weight - 130 pounds
Date of Death Estimate - January 1, 2003
DNA is available in this case

On February 8, 2004 an elderly woman was found in the water of Puget Sound just off Vashon Island near the Tahlequah ferry dock. A Bandito's Charters boat and some divers out doing training were the first to see her. The captain of the boat saw what he thought was a blue tarp and blond hair. Two divers went into the water to investigate. When investigators got to the scene they found a decomposed body entangled in duct tape floating among debris in the water, including a blue tarp with duct tape on it.

The King County Sheriff's Office made a point to say in a news article they did not find the body wrapped, only "entangled in duct tape". However, witnesses claimed the body was wrapped tightly in a brown blanket and the blue tarp. This leads me to think the divers unwrapped the body before investigators got there. However, the news articles didn't explain the discrepancy, it only noted it.

It was apparent that the body had been in the water for a length of time as it wasn't possible to immediately tell the race or gender. It took a day for the medical examiner to release that the person was a female. The woman was wearing a long pajama shirt with a cowboy boot pattern. She was of medium height with shoulder length hair. There is some disagreement in hair color- some information says her hair was bleached blond, NCMA says white.

CrimeStoppers of Puget Sound is offering up to $1000.00 reward for information in the case. You can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
King County Sheriff's Office 206-296-3311

Komo News Article
Seattle PI News Article
NCMA