WORKERS FOUND the body of a man lying in an open field near Ridgefield Wednesday morning. Authorities said in a news release that it “appears to be the result of homicidal violence.’’
RIDGEFIELD – Investigators are looking into a possible homicide after workers found the body of a man lying in an open field near the Clark County Fairgrounds early Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded about 6 a.m. Wednesday to a field near the intersection of NE 179th Street and NE 15th Avenue after receiving reports from loggers who spotted the body as they arrived for work.
Authorities have not released an official cause of death but said in a news release it “appears to be the result of homicidal violence.”
No evidence suggests the death occurred in the field, Clark County Sgt. Fred Neiman said.
“The body appears to have been dumped here, (it) doesn’t appear like the homicide occurred here,” he said, “and they are working it as a homicide investigation at this point.”
Authorities have tentatively identified the victim, Neiman said, but are withholding the name pending positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
Investigators have not released information on possible suspects, but detectives think the body was placed in the field sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Neiman said.
“The workers have been in and out of this little dirt access road, so they certainly would have seen it when they left last night or yesterday,” he said. “It’s a fairly recent occurrence that the body was left here.”
Detectives with the Clark County major crimes unit were on scene Wednesday morning gathering evidence, Neiman said. Clark County medical examiners arrived just before noon to collect the remains.
Deputies estimated the case to be the County’s fourth homicide investigation since the beginning of the year.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on the case to contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (360) 397-6079.
