Tacoma woman found on beach died of ‘homicidal violence,’ coroner says
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- Grays Harbor coroner ruled Annie Michelle Fears’ death a homicide.
- Sheriff’s Department investigators are pursuing leads in the case.
- Fears was a Tacoma mother who experienced homelessness.
A 51-year-old Tacoma woman whose remains were found on a beach north of Ocean Shores in October died of homicidal violence, the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office said Monday.
The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department began investigating Oct. 22 when it responded to a report of a body found on the beach. The coroner identified the woman as Annie Michelle Fears.
Coroner George Kelley said Monday that the condition of Fears’ body made it very difficult to determine a more specific cause of death. However, the death investigation confirmed that someone caused Fears’ fatal injuries. This included an examination at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Department is following up on leads in Fears’ case, according to Kelley. Investigators previously asked anyone who knew Fears or came across her to contact a detective at 360-964-1777.
Fears was a mother to two children and an adult son. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand, while her father was in the Air Force, and she grew up in Tacoma, where she graduated from Curtis High School. She was experiencing homelessness in the year before her death.
A relative for Fears did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Fears’ father, Michael Fears, previously told The News Tribune that his daughter did not own a car, and the authorities were trying to find out how she got to Grays Harbor.
The investigation of Fears’ cause of death included assistance from the Thurston County Coroner’s Office and the FBI, the Grays Harbor Coroner’s Office said in a news release.
“We wish to extend our condolences to the family of Ms. Fears, and to thank all the agencies involved,” the office said.
