LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. — A couple was arrested and is facing manslaughter charges after a man and his dog were found dead on a trail in Lewis County, Washington, in August.
According to KIRO, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called out to a report of man’s body on Aug. 20 near Walupt Lake. When deputies arrived, they found a deceased man who was later identified as Aron Christensen, 49, and his deceased dog.
The following day, LCSO was called by a family member of a man who was later identified as the suspect by authorities, according to KIRO. The caller told deputies that they may have information about the incident.
According to KIRO, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were interviewed during the investigation. They allegedly told deputies that they left the Walupt Lake trail around 9 p.m. on Aug. 19 to hike to the Sheep Lake Campground with a family member of the man.
During the hike, they both said they heard growling and thought they saw a wild animal. The man said he was scared and allegedly fired a single gunshot toward the animal. The two checked the area after and found a man and a dog both dead, according to KIRO. They both said they continued to hike but ended up going the wrong way.
LCSO charged the man and girl with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree animal cruelty after deputies received the results of the autopsy which was performed on Aug. 26, according to KIRO.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information has been released. Anyone with information is asked to call LCSO at 360-748-9286 or Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.
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