SEATTLE — A homicide investigation is underway after human remains were found at a homeless encampment in Seattle Friday morning.
As part of ongoing outreach efforts, a group of state workers were clearing the encampment at 9:40 a.m. when they noticed a strong smell, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The smell led the workers to discover the human remains.
WSP is investigating the situation as a homicide.
"I'm not going to be able to say much about the state of the body we found, other than to say the way it was found, where it was found and how it was found leads us to believe there was foul play," said WSP spokesperson Chris Loftis.
He told KING 5 the remains were in an advanced state of decomposition.
"Whoever this person is, whatever the situation [that] caused their death, whatever led up to it, this was somebody's loved one, someone's family member," he added.
The encampment is located near Interstate 5 in Seattle near Dr. Jose Rizal Park and is formerly known as "The Jungle."
In 2022, the state launched its Right of Way Safety Initiative, which is now known as the Encampment Resolution Program.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), state and local partners work together to find solutions for people living in camps along state roadways.
Loftis said WSDOT workers recently conducted outreach in the area where the remains were discovered; Friday's work to clear debris was part of the state's standard follow-up.
In 2016, two people were killed at the same encampment.
Two brothers, James and Jerome Taafulisia, were each sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2020, more than four years after the deadly shooting in the former homeless camp. They were found guilty of first-degree murder in 2019.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.