Remains halt prison expansion

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Workers uncovered a possible unmarked grave near the old prison cemetery, a discovery that halted work on an expansion project at the Washington State Penitentiary.

A backhoe digging footings for a fence uncovered what appeared to be bone fragments Wednesday, prison spokeswoman Lori Scamahorn said.

The site was about 30 feet outside the known boundary of the old prison cemetery, which has not been used since the 1960s.

Work was halted while project archaeologist David Harder examined the remains and notified Walla Walla Police.

County Coroner Frank Brown determined the bone fragments were human and said the presence of wood and metal indicate the body was buried in a casket.

Officials reburied the remains after a brief service by the Rev. Doug Barram, Brown said.

“Our suspicion is this is an older site attached to the current cemetery,” Brown said.

There’s little chance of identifying the remains due to the age of the bones, Brown said, which were “over 50 years, at least.”

The area will be examined with a ground-penetrating sonar to determine if there were any other gravesites there, Scamahorn said.

If no other remains are found, she said, officials will have to decide whether to move the fence or petition the state Cemetery Board to have the body exhumed again and relocated.