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News brief: Body found off highway cliff near Packwood identified as Tacoma man

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  The Lewis County Coroner’s Office confirmed today the skeletal remains found down an embankment with a wrecked car last week off U.S. Highway 12 outside Packwood are missing Tacoma resident, Jerry L. Heilman.

Coroner Warren McLeod said Heilman, who vanished last year, died of blunt force trauma.

Responders had to rappel down about 275 feet to recover the body after hikers came across the scene last Wednesday.

HIs manner of death is undetermined, but the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has said it wasn’t suspicious, that they believe his car was traveling fast in the area without a guard rail near milepost 143.

A missing person listing [1] with the city of Tacoma says Heilman was last seen on July 31 of 2012, had not contacted his friends, family or his employer and could be driving a blue 2003 Ford Mustang. His age given was 49 at the time of his disappearance.

The (Tacoma) News Tribune [2] writes Heilman was an avid hunter and fisherman and left his home on Aug. 1, 2012.