Police arrest man in connection to body found under bridge in Olympia
A 24-year-old man has been booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder following a police investigation into a suspicious death reported Tuesday, according to Olympia police.
The man was arrested this week after Olympia Police Department detectives were dispatched to the Fifth Avenue bridge in downtown Olympia at around 1 a.m. Tuesday.
That’s where a man in his 40s was discovered dead on a sleeping bag under the bridge. Detectives found that the man had been the victim of a recent physical assault, and they were able to confirm through witnesses that an assault had occurred. Witnesses also helped identify a suspect to the detectives.
Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock confirmed the identity of the victim as 47-year-old Patrick O’Neil.
The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force assisted detectives in locating and arresting the man. Detectives consulted with the Thurston County Prosecutors Office and determined that the assault occurred in proximity to the victim’s death.
The 24-year-old man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of second-degree assault, but after the investigation, he was booked for second-degree murder.
The Coroner’s office was able to confirm the victim suffered facial fractures from a recent physical assault, but a specific cause of death has not yet been reported.
Police continue to investigate.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 10:38 AM.
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