Spokane woman found dead in western Washington state park

MASON COUNTY, Wash. -- A woman from Spokane was found dead in western Washington in mid-June, according to Mason County Sheriff's Office.

On June 11 around 7:30 a.m., MCSO responded to a call about a body in a remote, wooded area near Schafer Park in Elma, about an hour-and-a-half drive southwest of Seattle.

During the investigation, the Mason County Coroner's Office identified the body as 29-year-old Joanna Ruth Saunders of Spokane.

Saunders was known to have been a part of the homeless community in Shelton, about 30 minutes northeast of Elma.

On June 22, MCSO received a report of women's clothing and items dumped in a wooded area nears Johns Prairie in Shelton.

Deputies conducted an investigation and concluded the clothing and items belonged to Saunders.

Through multiple interviews and video footage, MCSO determined a suspect.

On July 3, deputies arrested a man in connection to Saunder's murder.

He was booked into Mason County Jail on second-degree manslaughter.

His identity has not been released and MCSO said there is no current risk to the public.

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