Body Found Identified That of Missing Man From Outlook

A new homicide investigation is underway in the Yakima County Sheriff's Office after a body was found in Toppenish earlier this year. The body is that of a person reported missing in August.

DEPUTIES RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT A BODY FOUND

On September 8 Deputies were called to the intersection of Tule Road and Plank Road for a report of a body found in a field. Investigators took over and and autopsy was conducted days later. The person, identified as 45-year-old Martin Baldemar Meraz of Outlook died of a gunshot wound. Authorities were able to confirm the identity through dental records.
In late August of this year the man's family reported him missing and today a homicide investigation is underway.

ANOTHER BODY WAS FOUND IN MABTON LAST MONTH

Detectives with the Yakima County Sheriff's Office are also busy looking for information about another body found near Mabton last month.
A body found near Mabton on October 24 has been identified as 25-year-old Manuel Guzman-Gomez from Chiapas Mexico. Yakima County Sheriff's Deputies found his body in the 1500 block of Bus Road. Authorities say he died of homicidal violence. A murder investigation is underway.

CALL IN YOUR TIPS TODAY

Know anything that could help authorities?  Call the County sheriff's office at
509-574-2500. Tips may also be left with Yakima County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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