By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The sheriff revealed this morning that identification found with the body discovered at Riffe Lake belonged to a Colorado man wanted for murder.
The find on the shore’s edge of the East Lewis County lake was reported about 6 p.m. Wednesday by a boater, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The body was badly decomposed.
Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield said this morning positive identification has not been made but detectives found the ID in a backpack next to the body. It belongs to a 49-year-old Denver man wanted in connection with the murder of his girlfriend in March in Denver, according to Mansfield.
The sheriff said the wanted man’s vehicle was found in April near the Blue Lake Campground outside of Randle. It was impounded and its owner not located, he said.
The Blue Lake Campground is on the Cispus River in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest – more than 30 miles from where the body was found.
The wanted man’s name is James A. Sprague, according to the sheriff’s office.
Detectives began processing the scene at the lake where the body was found – near the Mossyrock Dam fishing area – yesterday morning. Sheriff’s Cmdr. Steve Aust said there were other items found that suggested the individual had a makeshift camp set up there.
Detectives are working with the Lewis County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death and make a positive identification, the sheriff said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter