BREMERTON, Wash. — A suspect in a Bremerton child rape who had been presumed dead since 2009 was found dead in Los Angeles in late February.
The Bremerton Police Department said Thursday that a body found in southern California has been identified as Christian Robert Basham. He was living under an assumed name, Mark Clemens, but was identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office as Basham.
In 2008, Basham was arrested and charged with second-degree child rape, the Bremerton police say. He was released from jail after posting bail. On March 29, 2009, a witness reported seeing Basham jump from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. His car and a suicide note were later found. Multiple agencies searched for his body, but it ultimately was never found.
BPD was made aware of Basham's discovery on March 13. The department says that while the criminal investigation against him is closed, detectives will be doing additional work to understand Basham's movement and actions since he was presumed dead 15 years ago.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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