Missing woman’s body found

The body of Jamie Marie Breckenridge, 42, who had been missing since Jan. 8, was found Sunday afternoon, about a quarter of a mile from where she was last seen.

The woman was found near W. Grand Coulee Avenue by a friend of a resident who lives nearby and reported to police shortly after 3 p.m.

The last known contact anyone had was when Breckenridge was seen near Four Corners and stated she planned to leave the area and go to Snohomish. There has been a statewide missing persons alert out since she went missing.

Monday, Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison, after an autopsy, stated: “... the cause and manner of death is pending further investigation.”

Officers at the empty lot scene indicated that there was no indication of foul play.

The body was located at the back of a vacant lot and about 75 feet from SR-174.

Grand Coulee Police Chief Mel Hunt said his office immediately contacted Grant County officials in the event they were needed if it was determined the location of the body was a crime scene.

County Sheriff Tom Jones sent Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman to the scene to handle media inquiries.

Officials said the body was clothed in the same apparel reported at the last sighting of Breckenridge before she went missing.

The lot where the body was found is between two houses, one of them vacant, and with debris scattered around. The body was partially hidden by snow and preserved by the cold.

After Chief Hunt arrived at the scene, the area was cordoned off and officers waited for the arrival of the coroner.

Hunt said Coroner Morrison has asked the Washington State Laboratory for tests so the actual cause of death can be determined.

Foreman noted the coroner’s office has been very busy over the last few days, with a double homicide in Mattawa and a suicide in Coulee City a week ago.