MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — Authorities said Monday they actually found two bodies while investigating a suspicious death near a natural area in Maple Valley last week.
The King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) said two bodies were found in the bushes under trash and debris near Southeast 252nd Street and 238th Avenue Southeast in Maple Valley.
The King County Medical Examiner identified Robert Leroy Frederick Riley, 57, and Ashley Nicole Williams, 34, as the two victims. Their cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest, but investigators have not determined the events that led to the bodies being placed in the location.
King County deputies said they received a 911 call around 1 p.m. on Thursday. Deputies said someone walking down the street saw trash on the side of the road and found a body after looking closer. King County Major Crimes Unit detectives were on the scene gathering evidence for hours Thursday.
“There is quite a bit of garbage covering the one body we could see," Eric White, a sergeant with the King County Sheriff’s Office, said Thursday. "They’re taking a methodical approach to check for evidence in and around before they actually remove the trash to determine closer what we have."
A man who lives nearby told KING 5 that he was the one who initially discovered the bodies when he was walking his dog and called 911.
"I’m like looking at it, and I’m like, 'Huh, is that a mannequin?' And I looked again and I was like,' Huh, no.' And so I started hollering, you know, thinking, 'Are they alive?' Ya know, 'What’s going on?'" said Mark Bullard, who lives in the area.
He spotted them in a brushy area along the side of the road.
One of those victims was 34-year-old Ashley Williams from the Carnation-Duvall area.
"She was special to me," said Jordan Backman. "She was important to me.”
Backman said they had been "best friends" since they were children.
"When Ashley had her first child, Emma, we were very close. I helped her raise Emma," said Backman. "We were like sisters."
She said as far as she knew, Williams had been living in Maple Valley.
"She had moved into what she said was a safe place for her in Maple Valley," said Backman.
Backman said she had heard Williams speak about the other victim, 57-year-old Robert Riley, but had never met him and wasn't too familiar with his character.
"She never said like they were dating or anything," said Backman. "She just had mentioned she was hanging out with a guy named Robert, he was cool, he was into crystals, and they were going to the gym... She sounded happy.”
Backman said she cannot imagine who would have done this to her caring and loyal friend.
"I’ve never even heard anybody say that they disliked her or were mad at her,” said Backman.
Williams was a mother of five children, and Backman said most of them lived with their adoptive parents.
"She was a wonderful mother. Just caring," said Backman. "It was a very selfless thing to give your child a better life."
Backman said she hopes her five children will get answers on what happened and why.
"We will get justice for Ashley. We will," she said.
In the meantime, she said she is relieved that Williams' kids are being cared for right now. She plans to check in with some of them in the wake of this, too.
Williams' sister, mother and children will now face painful and unexpected funeral costs, so if you'd like to help, you are urged to visit the verified GoFundMe set up in her honor.
Details of the people found dead are limited, leading deputies to investigate their deaths as suspicious.
Authorities asked anyone with information on the case to call 206-263-2090, email mcutips@kingcounty.gov, or anonymously submit a tip via the P3Tips.app.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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