Body found near I-5 in Mountlake Terrace
Investigators are treating the discovery this morning of a man’s body in a duct-taped sleeping bag near Interstate 5 in Mountlake Terrace as a suspicious death.
Police were called out to rule whether the man - who was described as well-groomed and in his 40s - was a transient who had died of natural causes. But a spokesman with the State Patrol said the location of the body makes that unlikely.
Trooper Keith Leary said the body was found in a sleeping bag that had duct tape wrapped around the base. It was found 10 feet from the offramp to 220th Street Southwest along southbound I-5. “That’s generally not an area where a transient would sleep,” said Leary. He said transients are more typically found in sheltered areas.
Police said it did not appear that the duct tape was used to repair the sleeping bag.
Police were called around 11 a.m. after the body was spotted by Department of Transportation workers who were repairing light poles in the area.
Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com