Cops find skeleton in back yard. Now they want to talk to man with Pierce County ties

A man wanted for questioning in connection with a 25-year-old Snohomish County homicide might be in Pierce County, authorities say.

The cold case became active again on May 22 when Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office detectives found human skeletal remains buried in a Bothell back yard.

Detectives believe the remains are those of Michael Powell of Mill Creek. Powell has not been in contact with his family since the early 1990s. He was in his early 30s at the time of his disappearance.

Detectives believe Powell is a homicide victim.

A 43-year-old man with ties to Pierce County and a last known address in Bonney Lake has been named a “person of interest” in Powell’s death. The News Tribune generally does not publish the names of people connected to a crime unless they have been charged.

Anyone with information on the case should call the Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 425-388-3845.

This story was originally published May 31, 2019 at 1:19 PM.