Human skeleton found near Olympia belongs to 63-year-old woman

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The human skeletal remains found in a wooded area near Olympia belong to 63-year-old Karen J. Brocha, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Brocha was an active missing person in Lacey since April of 2018, police said. At that time, she had been evicted from her Lacey address. Her brother reported her missing.

A resident who had been walking about 50 yards into the woods in the 2200 block of Overhulse Road NW found the remains in a wooded area about a half-mile from the Evergreen State College in Olympia Thursday afternoon, according to Lt. Tim Rudloff of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded and confirmed what appeared to be the complete skeleton of an adult human. The skeleton was nearly intact and included clothing and accessory items, Rudloff said.

Detectives and a representative of the Thurston County Coroner's Office secured the scene overnight and began a full investigation Friday morning.

The Coroner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.