PIERCE COUNTY — The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has identified human remains discovered near Lake Tapps in 2019 as belonging to Linda Lee Schock, according to a statement released by the department. Officials said Schock was born on February 14, 1966, and that her death has been classified as a homicide.

According to reporting by MyNorthwest, an excavator operator first encountered a suspicious container in 2019. When the container was opened, the operator found a body wrapped in a blanket and secured with duct tape before calling 911. The remains remained unidentified for years.

In a statement released by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, investigators said that recent forensic genetic genealogy testing conducted in 2025 allowed them to confirm Schock’s identity. The department stated that the case remains an active, unsolved homicide and asked the public to submit information through Crime Stoppers.

While the homicide occurred outside Cowlitz County, the investigative techniques used in the case—particularly forensic genetic genealogy—have growing relevance across Washington. Local law enforcement agencies in Southwest Washington have increasingly turned to similar methods to resolve long‑standing unidentified‑remains cases and to revisit cold-case investigations where traditional evidence has reached its limits.

Why this matters for Southwest Washington

For communities along the I‑5 corridor, including Longview and Kelso, the case highlights the expanding role of advanced forensic tools in solving violent crimes statewide. Several regional cases in recent years have relied on the same technology, and law enforcement agencies in Southwest Washington continue to coordinate with state and federal partners as these methods become more accessible.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the homicide investigation remains open and active. Anyone with information related to Linda Lee Schock or her death has been asked by the department to provide tips through Crime Stoppers.

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