Father awaits answers after missing Ballard woman found dead
Mar 19, 2026, 11:57 AM | Updated: 2:46 pm
Violet Benjamin. (Photo courtesy of Yobie Benjamin)
(Photo courtesy of Yobie Benjamin)
The body of Violet Benjamin, a missing 28-year-old Ballard woman, was recovered Wednesday in the water near a public boat launch at Shilshole Avenue Northwest and 14th Avenue Northwest.
Her father, Yobie Benjamin, has been in Seattle searching for his daughter since she went missing. Now, he waits for the medical examiner’s office to deliver more answers.
“They just don’t know whether there was foul play or not. It is too early to say what the cause of death is,” Yobie Benjamin said.
Violet Benjamin was considered a vulnerable adult who struggled with mental illness. Her partner reported her missing on Feb. 28. A passerby found a pile of clothing a few days later, which was confirmed to be Violet Benjamin’s.
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Authorities find missing Ballard woman’s body
The Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) missing persons unit, the SPD Harbor Patrol, and the King County Sheriff’s Office searched the area first with a cadaver dog, then, on Wednesday, with a remotely operated, submersible vehicle, which found her body in about nine feet of water.
It’s not the outcome Yobie Benjamin was hoping for. Still, he offered sincere gratitude to everyone in Seattle who showed their support.
“Many people have stepped up to offer their sympathy and their support, giving tips on sightings. Our family just wants to thank the people of Seattle and the police department,” Yobie Benjamin said.
The King County Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy and toxicology to determine the cause and manner of death.
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