Body Found In Graham Auto Yard Was Missing Snohomish County Woman

GRAHAM, WA — A body discovered in the trunk of a vehicle late last month has been identified as a missing Snohomish County woman.

Back on Dec. 21, a Pierce County Sheriff's Department investigation lead deputies to an auto yard in the 21400 block of Meridian Ave E in Graham, where they discovered a body inside the trunk of one of the vehicles there.

After clearing the scene, the body was then passed to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation. The examiner's office on Monday released the results of their autopsy, identifying the woman as 41-year-old Patricia Soto. The cause and manner of her death are still unknown.

As The News Tribune first reported, Soto had been missing since Nov. 7, and was last seen at a residence in Burien. According to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department, she had previously frequented the Granite Falls and Everett areas, but had recently moved to Burien or Des Moines. She had been reported missing by her family, who hadn't heard from her in some time and were worried for her safety.

The King County Sheriff's Office is investigating Soto's death as a homicide, The News Tribune reported.