Man's body discovered south of Kennewick. Sheriff's deputies say it's a homicide

A man found dead Tuesday south of Kennewick is being investigated as a homicide, the Benton County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

Sheriff's Lt. Mike Clark told the Herald that a passerby saw the body in the open near 10th and Yew in the Finley area.

Investigators have determined the man's identity, but have not released details about how they believe he died or exactly where he was found.

His family has been notified but his identity has not been released.

An autopsy was performed Thursday, coroner Bill Leach said.

Anyone with information about the man's death is asked to call Detective Cameron Boehning at 509-735-6555, ext. 7201, or email [email protected]. us.

January Murder

The death is believed to be the second homicide in Benton County this year.

The first homicide occurred in January in Richland. Accounts of the event have been disputed and it is unclear whether a group was invited into a home or attempted to break in, but Jarrod Yockey, 51, was shot and killed while he was fighting with the son of a Richland landlord.

Lara M. Garcia, 27, is accused of shooting and injuring two people, and has been charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Her boyfriend Michael Reep was seen standing nearby with a gun in his hand after Yockey was shot.

It is unclear whether Reep also opened fire. He was arrested in Las Vegas about two weeks later after fleeing. He was arrested on a warrant for illegal possession of a firearm. Neither Reep nor Garcia have been charged with murder.

This follows a record year for homicides in Benton County, with 19 people killed in 2022.

This story is developing. Please check again for updates.