Investigation continues in Steamboat Island Road area

Detectives continued to investigate Friday after the body of a woman was found Thursday afternoon in a remote part of the woods in the Steamboat Island Road area off U.S. Highway 101.

Department of Natural Resources crews found the body at 1:30 p.m. near Old Highway 101 north of Whitaker Road Northwest.

“It’s in a very remote location,” said Thurston County sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin. “It’s fairly inaccessible to the general public.”

The investigation was delayed because of the location of the body, as well as weather conditions. Deputies remained at the scene overnight.

The Sheriff’s Office used search and rescue techniques Friday to search the forest to find any evidence leading to how she got to such a remote location.

The same techniques will be used again today.

“We can’t say with any certainty that she came here under her own power or that she was transported here by somebody else, or she was killed here by somebody or did she die on her own,” Elwin said. “We have no idea.”

The body was removed from the woods Friday, and Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said an autopsy was under way by the afternoon.

“Detectives are trying to track down any bit of information that we can that might help us determine why she was there,” Elwin said.