Press Release: Fourth Arrest Made in Death of Randle Teenager

PRESS RELEASE

Date/Time: 07-12-18 @ 0945 Hours

Contact: Chief Dusty Breen

Phone: (360) 740-1327

Release #: 4

Fourth Arrest Made in Death of Randle Teenager

Yesterday evening Emma L. Brown, a 20 year old female of Glenoma, was arrested after turning herself in at the Lewis County Jail on an outstanding arrest warrant. Earlier in the day an arrest warrant had been issued for Rendering Criminal Assistance in the 1^st Degree with a $1,000,000 bail. Emma Brown is the fiancée to Jonathon Adamson and her arrest is based on her actions and knowledge of the crime after the homicide, but prior to the arrest of the two suspects. She remains in custody at the Lewis County Jail.

Anyone having additional information on the incident are encouraged to call the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 748-9286, or Lewis County Communications at (360) 740-1105.

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Previously Released by Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey on 06/30/18:

Arrests In Case of Missing Teenager

The two persons of interest in the case of the missing 16 year old, Ben Eastman III from Randle, were contacted by Washington State Patrol troopers during a traffic stop on Interstate 90, near Ellensburg late yesterday afternoon. As a result, LCSO detectives traveled to Ellensburg and interviewed the brothers, Benito S. Marquez, 16, and Jonathan R. Adamson,21.

Based upon the interviews, and the investigation to date, the two were arrested on suspicion of Murder in the Second Degree of Ben Eastman III. The two were returned to Lewis County and booked into jail. Benito S. Marquez was booked into Lewis County Juvenile Detention and Jonathan R. Adamson was booked into the LewisCountyJail. TheautopsyonMr.Eastmanisscheduledfortoday,andtheinvestigationcontinues.

“This is a horrific and senseless death that will have a lasting impact on this small community, surrounding area, and all involved. Through the work of our deputies, detectives, other agencies, and the citizens of Lewis County we have been able to apprehend the two, we feel our responsible for the murder of Ben Eastman III.”

All other inquiries should be directed to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.

It is anticipated the two suspects will make their first court appearance on Monday, July 2, 2018.

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Previously released by Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey on 06/28/18:

Lewis County Deputies Recover Body

On June 27, at approximately 7:45 a.m. a 16 year old boy was reported as a runaway or possible missing person to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) by the boy’s family. It was reported that the 16 year old lived with his father in Randle and was last seen on June 23, 2018. Prior to reporting him missing to law enforcement, family and friends attempted to locate the juvenile, but were unsuccessful. The information relayed to the LCSO was that the 16 year old had last been in contact with a same-aged male friend who lived nearby, the two of which had been friends for years.

Deputies were told the two had planned on meeting up that evening, but according to the friend, the missing 16 year old never showed up. That was the last known contact with the missing 16 year old. Deputies interviewed the friend on June 28, 2018, and he relayed that he had not seen the missing 16 year old in several days.

As part of the investigation into the whereabouts of the missing teen, on June 28, 2018, at about 4:00 PM, deputies and detectives from the LCSO were canvassing an area in Randle, WA. The canvas lead them to a remote property belonging the friend’s relative off of Cispus Road, where deputies received information of a possible shallow grave. Initially deputies were advised the gravesite was for a dog that had recently died, but felt the information was suspicious in light of recent report of the runaway/missing juvenile.

It was here that deputies located a fresh gravesite in a wooded area away from any buildings on the property. Located within the shallow gravesite deputies discovered a body of an unidentified individual. It is unknown at this time if the discovery of this gravesite and body are connected to the missing juvenile. At this time, the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the deceased is not known at this time, but will be released by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office upon positive identification and next of kin being notified.

As part of the ongoing missing person investigation, the LCSO is attempting to locate the missing 16 year old’s friend and the friends 21 year old brother.

The 16 year old friend has been identified as Benito Marquez, and goes by the name Benny. Mr. Marquez’s brother has been identified as Jonathan Adamson. Anyone with information regarding the missing/runaway juvenile and/or the whereabouts of these two individuals is encouraged to contact the LCSO.

Anyone having information on these crimes or any other crime, should contact the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 748-9286.

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LewisCountySheriff'sOfficeMissionStatement:

Beingacommittedcommunitypartner, providingprofessional servicetoenhancethesafety,security,andqualityoflifeinLewisCounty.