Man told police he had sexual contact with body

By Jeremy Pawloski | Staff writer • Published August 09, 2010

UPDATE: Thurston County Sheriff's deputies have booked Bernard K. Howell, 26, of Tenino into jail on one count of murder in the second degree and one count of theft in the first degree. According to court papers, Howell told police he found the body and had sexual contact with the dead woman, who was in her 50s.

The earlier story: Thurston County Sheriff's deputies have booked Bernard K. Howell, 26, of Tenino into jail on one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Theft in the First Degree. The theft charge was added because sheriff's believe the suspect took the victim's vehicle after the crime.

Investigation has revealed that the victim may have been in the area of Highway 507 and Mull Road, possibly on the Chehalis Western Trail when she was attacked, however, the exact location of her murder has not been found at this time. A vehicle located near that location belongs to a woman from Yelm who has not been seen since yesterday morning. Positive identification is pending. an autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Police don't believe the suspect knew the victim based on the investigation so far, but are still trying to determine the relationship.

The earlier story:

TENINO - A 26-year-old man was pulled over at about 8:15 Sunday night in the area of Parkside Elementary School with a dead female in the passenger seat of his Nissan pickup, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

The dead female, described only as an adult woman, had not been positively identified as of early Monday morning, Thurston County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Mealy said Monday. Police are investigating the woman's death as a homicide, according to Mealy.

The woman appeared to have suffered "intentionally-inflicted wounds," Mealy said. He would not elaborate.

Mealy said the 26-year-old was placed under arrest on suspicion of second-degree murder and first-degree theft. Mealy would not release the 26-year-old's name early Monday morning. The 26-year-old had not been booked into the Thurston County Jail as of about 1:20 a.m. Monday, Mealy said.

Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock confirmed early Monday morning that the coroner's office was on scene concerning the incident involving the dead woman.

The 26-year-old driver of the pickup told police that he had found the body and "saved the family the funeral expenses," according to Mealy. The woman was found wrapped in a sleeping bag and other material, Mealy said.

A sheriff's deputy on patrol was flagged down in the area of Central Street and Bogner Road in Tenino by a man at around 8:15 Sunday evening, Mealy said. The man told the deputy he had information about a dead body in a truck, Mealy said.

The witness then told the sheriff's deputy that the truck was driving by at that moment. The witness pointed out the vehicle and the deputy followed him and pulled him over with the help of a Tenino police officer, Mealy said.

The 26-year-old driver "took a while to stop," but when pulled over and did not try to resist, Mealy said.

Mealy said sheriff's deputies have obtained a search warrant for the 26-year-old's pickup, and for a second vehicle, a RAV4 on state Route 507 near Mull Street. Sheriff's deputies also have obtained a search warrant for a local residence, Mealy said.

From: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/08/09/1330324/man-pulled-over-with-dead-body.html