Man found dead near Puyallup Riverwalk Trail after series of fires is identified
A man found dead at a homeless camp in Puyallup after a series of fires near the Riverwalk Trail has been identified.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Richard Haaby, a 43-year-old transient.
Investigators have not determined his cause of death.
Haaby’s body was found Monday at a transient camp near the 1300 block of East Main Avenue after someone reported three fires within a four-block radius.
The fires, reported about 5:30 p.m., appeared to start in several trash cans in the 700 block of Second Avenue Northeast. A second fire was reported near Haaby’s body.
Witnesses said there were “loud booms,” which fire officials said were containers of compressed gas exploding at the scene.
A third blaze was reported at a different homeless camp.
The investigation into the suspicious fires and Haaby’s death is ongoing.
Anyone with information can call the Puyallup Police Department tip line at 253-770-3343 or email tips@ci.puyallup.wa.us.
This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
