Second body found in Columbia River

VANTAGE - Grant County sheriff's deputies and detectives are investigating a case where a body was found Saturday floating in the Columbia River south of the Interstate 90 bridge at Vantage.

A boater found the body floating in the river around 6 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Authorities in both Grant and Kittitas counties were notified.

The body was discovered on the Grant County side of the river nearly a mile south of the bridge.

This is the second body pulled from the river over the past week: Grant County sheriff's officials recovered another body Saturday, which they believe to be the remains of a man who disappeared diving over a week prior, a police report said.

It is not believed to be related to another body found over the weekend that officials believe to be a missing diver.

Remains were transferred to the Grant County Coroner's Office.

According to police reports, investigators have been unable to determine the gender of the remains.

Because of the decomposition, the county coroner's office plans to send the remains to the King County Medical Examiner for an autopsy to obtain more information.

Law enforcement asks for anyone with information to contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office at 509-762-1160, or send at email to crimetips@co.grant.wa.us.

- Staff report