Body found in Medical Lake identified as 47-year-old man

July 17, 2026 Updated Fri., July 17, 2026 at 8:56 p.m.

By Garrett Cabeza garrettc@spokesman.com (509) 459-5135

A body found Tuesday in Medical Lake was identified by the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office as Joseph Njata, 47.

The office said Njata’s cause and manner of death are pending.

Someone reported around 2 p.m. Tuesday seeing what appeared to be a body in the lake, according to a Spokane County Sheriff’s office news release Tuesday. Sheriff’s deputies, Major Crimes detectives, the forensic unit and emergency operations/dive team responded to the scene.

The sheriff’s office said in a Wednesday release that Njata’s death appeared not to be from a criminal act. The investigation into his death continues.

The medical examiner’s office said Njata died near the 1300 block of South Lefevre Street, which is on the south end of the lake where a park and beach are located.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Body found in Medical Lake identified as 47-year-old man

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Firefighters ride out Old Trails inferno in Spokane neighborhood: 'We make our stand here'

EWU, Gonzaga house community members affected by fires in dorms

'It was like heaven': Historic Spokane Rifle Club among 900 structures razed in Spokane complex fires