Identity of man’s body found in Franklin County reservoir remains a mystery

Investigators are continuing attempts to identify the man found Sunday in Scooteney Reservoir in northern Franklin County.

The body likely had been there for several months, and while it was clothed there was no identification. It was mostly bones when Franklin County sheriff’s deputies were called to the area, said County Coroner Curtis McGary.

Children fishing in the reservoir at the northern edge of the county spotted something floating in the water about 7 p.m. Sunday and called 911, said sheriff’s officials.

The reservoir is near the border of Franklin and Adams counties and sits next to Highway 17.

An autopsy conducted at the Spokane Medical Examiner’s Office on Tuesday found no evident of trauma, said McGary. And they weren’t able to determine the cause or manner of how the man died, he said.

While they were able to confirm the victim was a man, the autopsy wasn’t able to determine anything more about who he was.

McGary said they plan to use a DNA sample to try to identify him.

Sheriff Jim Raymond said there haven’t been any reports of missing people from the area in months, and they are reaching out to other agencies in an attempt to figure out who the man is.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 509-545-3501.

It was the second body to be found in the Mid-Columbia region waterways.

On Friday, a passerby discovered the body of James O. Lick, 63, of Pasco, near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers near Sacajawea Park. It appears that Lick drowned.

This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 5:42 PM.