Washington State Mysteries

SKYKOMISH, Wash. -- A 34-year-old man was found dead along a Skykomish logging road and police are investigating the death as a homicide. The victim was identified as Brandt Stewart of Snohomish County. Investigators haven't said exactly how Stewart died, only that the King County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as a homicide. Crime scene detectives are heading back to the scene this weekend to search for additional evidence and clues. Meanwhile, Stewart's family tells KOMO News that Stewart was shot in the head and found by a hiker Monday morning. His backpack and wallet were missing. "  A hiker found him at the snowline, just laying in the road. There was no sign of a struggle. He was just shot dead and left," sister April Stewart said.  "It’s wrong what they did. They shot him and left him laying there. It’s not right. He’s human. He didn’t deserve it," David Carmichael added.   Mother Lisa Carmichael said her son had his personal struggles with...

 From The Everett Herald: Bones are those of missing Granite Falls teenager October 2006 VERLOT — Bones found Tuesday on Mount Pilchuck are those of a Granite Falls man missing for more than a year, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner reported this afternoon. The skeletal remains of Brandon Riley Kempf, 19, were discovered Tuesday by two hikers on the north side of the mountain. Kempf was last seen in August 2005 near Blue Bridge on the Mountain Loop Highway. His clothes were recovered on the bridge, but until last week there was no sign of the Granite Falls teen. The cause of death remains under investigation, according to the medical examiner. The case has been treated in court as a homicide. ADVERTISEMENT 0 seconds of 0 seconds Volume 0%   Prosecutors on Sept. 29 dismissed a second-degree murder charge against a Lake Stevens man who had been charged in connection with Kempf’s death. Aaron J. Hillman, 20, was released from the Snohomish County Jail after spending more than...