Autopsy shows man was beaten to death
A slaying victim found Thursday in the basement of a Spokane Valley home was beaten to death, Spokane Valley police said Monday.
Department spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said an autopsy Monday showed that Peter Michael Joseph, 19, died of “blunt force trauma to the head.” Reagan didn’t say whether the autopsy indicated a weapon was used.
Joseph’s body was found in the home of Kevin David Stevens, with whom Joseph had been staying recently. Stevens, 18, was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Joseph’s hands and feet were bound with duct tape, his head was covered with a plastic bag secured with tape, and a belt was wrapped loosely around his neck when investigators examined the body. The body was wrapped in a blue tarp.
Reagan said a search of Stevens’ house turned up empty rolls of duct and packaging tape, as well as photographs and other items that belonged to Joseph.
Joseph’s mother, Maria Joseph, reported him missing on April 11 and said she hadn’t seen him since March 29.
Court documents say Stevens admitted helping plan and execute Peter Joseph’s killing.
ESTACADA, Ore.
CdA toddler dies during family trip
A 2-year-old boy from Coeur d’Alene died in an Oregon creek over the weekend after getting separated from family members.
Logan Taylor’s family was in Portland visiting an uncle who lives there when the family went to Bonnie Lure State Park along Eagle Creek in Clackamas County on Sunday.
Police were notified about 6 p.m. that the child had gotten separated from his family. His shoes soon were found in a logjam about a half-mile downstream from the park.
The toddler was found in the logjam about 7:20 p.m.
Oregon State Police were investigating, but authorities say it looks as if the child simply wandered away from his family.
spokane
Man who jumped into river identified
The man who jumped off the Post Street Bridge on Friday and died in the Spokane River was identified Monday as Johnny Angelo Didyk, 39, of San Ramon, Calif.
Spokane Police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said witnesses saw Didyk jump, so foul play is not suspected and no investigation is planned.
Level III sex offender living downtown
Police warned Monday that a Level III sex offender, the type considered most likely to commit new sex crimes, has moved to downtown Spokane.
The offender, 40-year-old Dondi Gonzales, was released from prison April 11 after serving six years for first-degree burglary and second-degree assault. Gonzales was convicted of burglary with sexual motivation in 1995, in a case involving an adult woman he knew, police said.
Gonzales is 5 feet 6, 175 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.
Pair sought in shooting of man on Sixth Avenue
Spokane police are looking for two men suspected of shooting a 24-year-old man in the thigh about 5 a.m. Monday.
The shooting occurred on Sixth Avenue, west of Monroe Street. Neighbors called police when they found the victim lying on a sidewalk, asking for help with what turned out to be a minor wound, police said.
Police said the victim told them he was shot by one of two men who drove off. The victim described the car as a black 1989 to 1992 Honda Civic or Accord.
Fire destroys garage, two vehicles nearby
Fire destroyed a two-car, detached garage at 1503 E. Joseph Ave. on Monday evening as well as two vehicles parked outside.
Spokane Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Sabo said the fire “was rolling pretty good when we got there” shortly after 5:40 p.m. There was no damage to the house that the garage served, and a neighbor’s garage sustained only minor damage, Sabo said.
The cause was under investigation.
Sabo said one firefighter suffered a minor burn on his foot.
Compiled from staff and wire reports