Okanogan County Coroner IDs body found in Okanogan River

The Okanogan County Coroner identified the body recovered from the Okanogan River near Malott last week as Elisha Barnes, 41, of Omak.

The Okanogan County Sheriff's Office found the man's body June 8 and released information regarding a "distinctive tattoo," hoping that a community member would be able to assist in identifying the body, according to a news release Wednesday.

A community member identified the tattoo and reported that it seemed like the one Barnes had. An examination of dental records compared to postmortem dental radiographs obtained during autopsy also positively identify the body as Barnes, according to the news release.

The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation pending the completion of a toxicology report and a final autopsy report, according to the news release.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.