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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Murder arrest made in missing man’s death

By Meghann M. Cuniff and Chelsea Bannach The Spokesman-Review
A body believed to be that of a man missing since this weekend was recovered Tuesday in Riverfront Park, and a 21-year-old is facing a murder charge in connection with the death, police said. Taken into custody was Yukio M. Rideb, who is being held at the county jail on a second-degree murder charge in the death of Romero J. Vivit III, 21. “This Yukio guy had been with him at the bar and was really good friends with him,” said Spokane police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. “We don’t know exactly what happened or how he died.” Police expect more details to be released Wednesday, she said. Vivit was at the Revolver Bar, 227 W. Riverside Ave., early Saturday and may have been assaulted in Riverfront Park afterward, police say. The body, which had visible injuries, was pulled from the Spokane River on Tuesday and will have to be positively identified by the county Medical Examiner’s Office, DeRuwe said. The investigation is ongoing. Park staff found blood near the Louff Carrousel, where Vivit was last seen, on Saturday, but cleaned it up without contacting police. “If they had believed that there was more to just cleaning up a mess which they routinely find in the park they certainly would have called (sooner),” said city spokeswoman Marlene Feist. “But they had no indication that that was a crime scene.” Feist said staff notified police of the blood after learning of the missing person. Vivit’s family reported him missing after finding his bloody clothes near the river, police say. His mother said Vivit, who has a 2-year-old son, was born in Spokane and participated in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts growing up. Police divers and a sheriff’s helicopter were at the park most of the day. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.