Body identified

Coroner says death caused by gunshot

MATTAWA — The mummified human remains found in an old homestead root cellar near Mattawa on Oct. 14 have been identified as those of a 22-year-old Desert Aire man, authorities said today.

Grant County Coroner Jerry Jasman identified the man as Jonathan M. Carrico.

Jasman said that an autopsy determined Carrico died as a result of a gunshot wound to the forehead and that a homicide investigation is being conducted by the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Carrico's mother reported him missing on Aug. 31 to the Ocean Shores Police Department in Grays Harbor County, Washington, Jasman said.

Evidence showed that Carrico's wallet and identification had been removed from his back pocket, Jasman said, so investigators used dental records from a person who had reportedly gone missing in the summer months of 2005 to identify the body.

Carrico's remains were taken to the King County Medical Examiner's Office in Seattle Tuesday for an autopsy and analysis by forensic anthropologist Dr. Kathy Taylor, Jasman said.

Carrico's family told GCSO detectives that the subject was living out of his vehicle and staying with friends while he was in Desert Aire. The family said that Carrico had been doing some under-the-table work in the area while he was there, Chief Deputy John Turley said.

A local orchardist reported finding Carrico's body about 9:20 p.m. on Friday while he was showing visitors the old-style earthen home on his property.