PORT ANGELES — Clallam County authorities are investigating the Monday discovery of a badly decomposed body on remote private property in the 8100 block of Deer Park Road, Sgt. Ed Munger said late Monday afternoon.
Munger said the deceased person, found around noon by a camper staying on an adjoining neighbor’s property, appears to be an adult male based on clothing, but Munger could not tell for certain.
Munger said authorities were initially investigating the death as suspicious.
“There are some things that are suspicious, not necessarily the cause of death, but other things,” Munger said, declining to elaborate while the investigation is underway.
Munger said the owner of the property where the body was found has not been located.
An older home is on the parcel, Munger said.
The home is located on a 19-acre tract, according to the address listed by the real estate data company Zillow.
The address provided by the Sheriff’s Office was not listed on the Clallam County Assessor’s website.
The property is located next to the historic Danz Ranch property near the boundary of Olympic National Park, Munger said.
Munger said the body would be turned over to Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney-Coroner Mark Nichols’ office to attempt to determine the manner and cause of the person’s death.
The camper staying on the neighbor’s property became suspicious after seeing cats run up and down the neighbor’s driveway, discovered the body and called authorities, Munger said.
“There was a high level of decomposition,” Munger said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
