Dishman Hills homicide victim identified

A man who authorities believe may be Spokane County’s first homicide victim this year has been identified as Douglas J. Klages. Hikers on Friday found Klages, a 46-year-old transient, dead in a small cave at Camp Caro Community Park, south of Sprague Avenue, in the Dishman Hills Natural Area. An autopsy was conducted Monday afternoon, but investigators have not disclosed the cause of death. Investigators found unspecified trauma on his body, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said. Klages had been in and out of homeless shelters and was apparently camping in the area around the time of his death, Reagan said. Spokane police are investigating the only other homicide in the Spokane area this year, a gang-related shooting that occurred within city limits on Jan. 17.