Police investigating homicide of Lewiston woman

Clarkston police are investigating a homicide and warning residents to be cautious when walking, especially after dark. A 69-year-old Lewiston woman who was found near a popular park was murdered, according to an autopsy conducted Monday. Ina Clare Richardson’s body was located early Friday on a hillside roadway that leads to a riverfront bike path near Beachview Park and Clarkston High School. Police Chief Joel Hastings said Richardson, who was known as a frequent pedestrian in the downtown Lewiston-Clarkston area, was last seen at 11:09 p.m. Thursday walking toward Third and Bridge streets from Clarkston’s Albertsons. At that time, she was wearing a green coat, a white hat and scarf and a long, denim skirt. Anyone who saw her late that night or early Friday is asked to contact the Clarkston Police Department at (509) 658-1680 or (509) 758-2331. Authorities also are encouraging residents to be cautious and vigilant, according to a news release issued late Monday afternoon. No arrests have been made in the homicide. Hastings has not commented on whether police have a suspect or the cause of death. Law enforcement officers from Clarkston and Asotin County are working on the case, along with the Washington State Patrol Criminal Investigation unit. Richardson’s autopsy was performed in Spokane. The petite, white-haired woman was a frequent visitor at the Salvation Army, Lewiston City Library and downtown businesses. She went by her middle name, Clare. “She ate at our soup kitchen quite a bit,” said Capt. Ralph Guthrie, pastor of the Salvation Army. “She was so sweet to our people, very courteous and respectful. She came for fellowship a lot. She was always clean and dressed nicely, very pleasant. Clare was well educated. When we first met her, she talked about her degrees.” Richardson was an avid reader who loved books and the library, Guthrie said. She was divorced in 2012. “She would insist on giving us a few dollars every time she ate, even though we always told her the meal was free,” Guthrie said. “She had a beautiful heart.”