Body found near Potholes identified

Man drowned

GRANT COUNTY — A body found in an irrigation weir south of Potholes State Park June 12 was identified as Belen Barajas Baldovinos, 36, of Moses Lake.

Grant County Coroner Jerry Jasman announced the identity Monday.

Baldovinos was found wearing only underwear and had no identification on him. The body was found near the intersection of Road 13.5 southeast and Road D southeast.

"It was a cold water drowning," said Chief Criminal Deputy John Turley. "He probably went in for a dip and couldn't get back out, who knows? There were no marks on him."

There are no signs of trauma — bullet or knife wounds — on the body, Turley said. The man was covered in a fine-silt mud.

Turley said a ditch rider was at the weir and attempting to adjust the flow of water to a farmer's field, but the body blocked the mechanism. When trying to free the blockage, the farmer determined it was a human body.

Investigators turned off the irrigation ditch, drained the water searching for evidence, but didn't find anything Turley said. The death is suspected to be accidental.

— Staff report