Moses Lake Murder Victim’S Skull Fractured

A Spokane man found murdered in Moses Lake earlier this week died of a fractured skull, authorities said Thursday.

A Moses Lake detective traveled to Spokane on Thursday looking for clues in the death of 23-year-old Eric Brace.

“We’re working with the Spokane Police Department to try to come up with some possible motives,” said Fred Haynes, Moses Lake police chief.

Haynes refused to discuss any other aspects of the case, including when detectives believe Brace was killed or where.

“That’s all part of the investigation at this point,” he said.

Brace’s body was discovered Tuesday on the shores of Moses Lake by a student walking home from school.

On Thursday, Spokane County sheriff’s deputies found Brace’s car abandoned on Aubrey L. White Parkway west of Spokane.

The car was towed to an impound lot near the Public Safety Building and probably will be analyzed by evidence experts today, said Dick Cottam, a spokesman for the Spokane Police Department.

Brace worked at a Kirby vacuum cleaner sales and service shop on North Monroe before his death, said Leland Lightbody, who manages the business.

Brace was arrested in 1996 on a burglary charge, according to court records, but the case was later dismissed.

“You couldn’t have asked for a better kid,” Lightbody said. “I’m going to miss him. I wouldn’t have spent the time I did trying to help him out if I didn’t think there was some potential there.”

Brace had spent some time in sales and recently was learning how to repair carpet sweepers, Lightbody said.

Lightbody last saw Brace, who was single, at his shop on Saturday morning.

“He was happy as a lark, didn’t have a care in the world,” Lightbody said. “I didn’t even know he was going to Moses Lake. Then for something like this to happen - it’s hard to believe.”