Police find body that may be linked to Auburn mystery
Sep 2, 2014, 11:28 AM | Updated: 1:25 pm
A badly decomposed body discovered in the garage of a Puyallup home Monday could be tied to a pile of bloody flooring and clothing found burning alongside a road in Auburn last month.
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies were conducting a welfare check at a home at 13008 Military Rd E. when they located the remains.
“It looked like the carpeting had been removed and the flooring and some other items, which matched what happened in Auburn,” Detective Ed Troyer told KIRO Radio.
Investigators believe the body is that of 30-year-old Brandon Shane Zomalt.
“Our detectives were able to tie Brandon Zomalt to that residence,” Troyer said.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office will confirm the identity and cause of death.
The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab linked Zomalt to blood found on a pile of burning flooring and clothing discovered Aug. 13 by an off-duty federal agent driving along Peasley Canyon Road. The agent saw the fire and witnessed a dark SUV speed away from the scene.
Auburn Police Commander Mike Hirman said the agent tried to chase the suspect, but lost him and called police.
No suspects have been identified in what Det. Troyer said is a homicide investigation.
The driver of the dark SUV is described as possibly being a mixed-race male in his late 20s to early 30s, between 5’8” – 5’10” tall, with a thin build and short, dark hair.
