Spokane Valley death remains a mystery

In a case originally believed to be a hit-and-run homicide, detectives continue to seek information in what has since been ruled the suspicious death of a 25-year-old man. Deputy Aaron Childress responded at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday to the area of Mission Avenue and Raymond Road after a passerby found someone lying in the middle of the intersection. Childress found 25-year-old Christopher Yukl unresponsive, lying on the ground. Medics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. ”Initially it was believed Yukl may have been the victim of a hit and run collision,” Sheriff’s spokesman Craig Chamberlin said in a news release. But an autopsy on Monday was unable to determine the cause of death. Detectives obtained surveillance video from a home near the intersection which showed a four-door sedan dropping Yukl off. ”He was standing there and then he fell to the ground,” Chamberlin said. Detectives are now waiting toxicology results from the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office to help determine what happened. In the meantime, investigators want to speak with anyone who may have seen anything in the area of Mission Avenue and Raymond Road on Sunday morning. Also, they would like to speak with anyone who had contact with Yukl anytime during the weekend prior to his death. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Craige Pannell at 477-3786.