Body found along rural road south of Kennewick. The death is suspicious

Benton County deputies were investigating Tuesday the discovery of a body along a rural road south of Kennewick.

A postal worker spotted the body at 10:45 a.m. while doing her deliveries on Bofer Canyon and Bateman roads east of the Highway 395/Interstate 82, said Commander Jon Schwarder.

The rural agricultural area is south of the intersection of Highway 397 and I-82.

Investigators aren’t certain how the person died, but the circumstances are suspicious. The person likely hadn’t been there long, said Schwarder.

Tuesday evening, investigators weren’t sure who the person was, but believed they will be able to identify the person.

Bateman Road was closed for several hours while Benton County detectives investigated.

“We don’t believe there to be any threat to the community,” Schwarder said.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333.

This story was originally published September 14, 2021 at 2:40 PM.