Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated at 12:36 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The two brothers law enforcement wanted to talk with in connection with the Randle teen reported missing this week were located late yesterday afternoon, when troopers made a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Ellensburg.

Benito S. Marquez, 16, and Jonathan R. Adamson, 21, were arrested for second-degree murder, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Benjamin Eastman III

Lewis County sheriff’s deputies found a fresh shallow grave off of Cispus Road in Randle on Thursday afternoon, on property belonging to a relative of the two brothers. An autopsy is being conducted today on the body of 16-year-old Benjamin Eastman III, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said in a press release this morning.

Eastman’s father reported him as missing or runaway early Wednesday morning and had last seen his son before going to bed on Saturday night, according to the sheriff’s office. The family resides on the 100 block of Gharet Road East.

Yesterday morning, the sheriff’s office said they learned Eastman and Marquez, who goes by Benny, had planned to meet up on Saturday evening, but Marquez said Eastman never showed up. The two boys are described as longtime friends who lived near each other in Randle.

“This is a horrific and senseless death that will have a lasting impact on this small community, surrounding area and all involved,” Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza stated. “Through the work of our deputies, detectives, other agencies, and the citizens of Lewis County we have been able to apprehend the two, we feel are responsible for the murder of Ben Eastman III.”

Kimsey said this morning that detectives traveled to Ellensburg and interviewed the two brothers. Based on interviews and investigation to date, the two were arrested and returned to Lewis County.

Adamson was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Marquez was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center.

Kimsey said he could not talk about what the two suspects said or didn’t say about what led to Eastman’s death. The investigation is continuing, according to Kimsey. He referred questions to the Lewis County prosecutor.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said he expects to get more answers today, from the preliminary autopsy report.

Eastman died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to Lewis County Chief Deputy Coroner Dawn Harris.

“Motive, we’re not discussing at this time, because the investigation is ongoing,” Meyer said.

The two are expected to make their first court appearances on Monday.

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For background, read “Body found in shallow grave in Randle, two brothers sought for questioning” from Friday June 29, 2018, here

Updated at 5:35 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Lewis County sheriff’s deputies found a fresh shallow grave yesterday afternoon as they searched for 16-year-old Benjamin Eastman of Randle missing since Saturday.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey says while the identity of the body has not been established, it was found on property off Cispsus Road belonging to a relative of a longtime friend of Eastman. The 16-year-old friend is the last person known to be in contact with the missing boy, according to Kimsey.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate the friend Benito Marquez and his 21-year-old brother Jonathan Adamson, Kimsey said this morning.

Eastman lives on the 100 block of Gharet Road East in Randle and was reported as missing or runaway by his father early Wednesday morning. The father said he last saw his son before going to bed on Saturday night, according to the sheriff’s office. Friends and family attempted to find the teen before calling authorities.

Deputies learned Eastman and Marquez, who goes by “Benny” had planned to meet up on Saturday evening, but Marquez said Eastman never showed up. The two live near each other in Randle and have been friends for years, according to the sheriff’s office.

When deputies interviewed Marquez yesterday, he indicated he had not seen Eastman in several days.

It was around 4 p.m. yesterday as law enforcement was canvassing an area in Randle, when they were led to the remote property off Cispus Road, and what they were initially told was a gravesite for a dog, according to Kimsey.

It seemed suspicious, according to Kimsey.

The shallow grave was in a wooded area away from any buildings on the property and contained the body of a person.

Kimsey stated in a press release last night: “It is unknown at this time if the discovery of this gravesite and body are connected to the missing juvenile. At this time, the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the deceased is not known at this time.”

The Lewis County Coroner’s Office is tasked with making positive identification and notifying next-of-kin. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow to determine the cause and manner of death.

Anyone having information on the whereabouts of the two brothers is asked to contact the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286.
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For background, read “Deputies search for missing Randle teen” from Thursday June 28, 2018, here

Ben Eastman, missing

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 16-year-old Randle boy reported missing or run away by his father early yesterday morning was last seen on Saturday at his home by his dad, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Ben Eastman lives on the 100 block of Gharet Road East in Randle.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said deputies have canvassed the neighborhood, talked to family, friends and multiple people and are still “out here looking.”

“We find it strange nobody’s seen him,” Kimsey said this afternoon, given the small community in which the family lives. “I would really like to find this young man as quick as possible.”

Kimsey said the boy was home when the father went to bed on Saturday, and when the father got up on Sunday, the teen wasn’t around. He waited around all day Sunday, and then called 911, Kimsey said.

The teen is described in a flyer shared by his grandmother as 5-feet 8-inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds with reddish-blond hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing jeans, a blue Aero T-shirt and black Nike shoes, according to the flyer. He doesn’t have a car, according to the sheriff’s office.

Kimsey asks anyone with any information on Eastman’s whereabouts to please call law enforcement right away.

“If someone sees something, say something,” Kimsey said. “Don’t wait two weeks.”

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 360-748-9286, or through Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105. Tips can be shared to Crime Stoppers of South Sound  at 800-222-TIPS (8477) by text or online.