By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Clallam County investigators are still waiting for an identification of the female torso that was found by beachgoers on September 16 near Sequim.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office at the time said foul play was not suspected, but on Tuesday Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King gave more insight.
“Yeah, so there’s significant trauma to the body, and the mechanism of injury…to those injuries, appear consistent with injuries that could have been sustained in a plane crash. And so, that’s where the focus of our investigation is at this time.”
Two weeks ago, Coroner Mark Nichols was able to get fingerprints from the remains. The evidence has since been in the hands of the folks at the Washington State Patrol crime lab.
Fingerprints aren’t necessarily a slam dunk. They’re only useful if the victim’s prints were on file somewhere. Nichols says that would usually only be case if the subject had, at some point, been arrested, applied for a concealed weapon permit, or submitted fingerprints in connection with a background check for certain types of public sector employment. Barring that, investigators would be left with tattoos, surgical implants, or dental records, which, it sounds like, are not available in this case.
The person’s identity is particularly anticipated because there are still 3 bodies missing from the floatplane crash in the water near Whidbey Island 12 days before the discovery of the remains.
Deputy King sounds confident that the fingerprints will pan out.
“We have obtained fingerprints from three of the individuals whose bodies have not been identified, and so we are using those fingerprints to compare to the body that we do have. So, we’re going to try to do some comparisons the old-fashioned way.”
Of the 10 people who died, there were six women. Joanne Mera, Sandra Williams, Patricia Hicks, Rebecca Ludwig, Lauren Hilty, and Gabby Hanna, whose body was recovered the day of the crash. Although officials have said there were 6 bodies aboard the plane when it was raised from the seabed last week, they have not revealed their identities. So, while it is unknown to the public whether there are any missing remains of a woman from the crash, Deputy King’s response would indicate that there are.
“So, we do have some of that information, but we’re unable to share that at this point. You know, we’re cautiously optimistic that the fingerprints will guide us in the right direction. However, if we do have to turn to DNA, that’s anywhere from three to six months.”
(CCSO photo)