Decomposing body found in south Spokane County

Sheriff’s detectives were investigating a possible homicide Monday evening after a woman discovered the partially decomposed body of a man in south Spokane County.

The woman reported finding the body in a woodpile late in the afternoon. Because of the gathering darkness, deputies could not determine the size of the crime scene, Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

The body had not been identified, and the Sheriff’s Department declined to disclose exactly where it was found, pending further investigation of the scene. Investigators would not say why they believe the man was the victim of a homicide.

Major crimes detectives were expected to decide Monday night whether to investigate in the dark or secure the scene until daylight, Reagan said. Detectives were concerned that precipitation overnight could hamper the investigation.

The woodpile where the body was discovered was described by Sgt. David Fray as typical of the way debris is stacked by the side of a road when a tree falls and needs to be quickly cleared.

Alcohol may have been factor in drowning at hot springs

Juntura, Ore. An Idaho man drowned in the Juntura Hot Springs over the weekend, and alcohol may have been a factor, authorities said.

Aaron Carney, 22, of Nampa, was found by his father, Gregory Carney, and pronounced dead at the scene Sunday, said Jim Widmer, senior deputy for the Malheur County Sheriff’s office.

The Carneys had driven to the area, about two miles east of Juntura along the Malheur River, to sit in the hot springs. They had been in the water for a few hours before deciding to go.

“They got up to leave, and the dad went and got dressed,” Widmer said. “He came back to the hot springs and found his son floating in the water.”

Paramedics attempted to revive Carney for more than an hour without success.

The spot is a popular place for hunters and campers; however, the Carneys were the only people occupying the hot springs at the time, Widmer said.

Former child actor missing; note about family found in car

Seattle Former child actor Joe Pichler, who appeared in two of the “Beethoven” comedies, has been missing for a week, and relatives and authorities disagree on whether writings he left in his car included a suicide note.

Family, friends and others have joined police, emergency workers and tracking dogs in unsuccessful efforts to find Pichler, now 18, since his empty car was found Jan. 9 at an intersection above Port Madison Narrows in Bremerton, about 15 miles west of Seattle.

In the car was a note in which he wrote about wishing to be a “stronger brother” and asking that his belongings go to a younger brother, his family said.

“There’s a good indication that it might have been a suicide, but we don’t know that,” Detective Robbie Davis, the lead investigator, said Monday.