Nearly a year after her last known appearance, a homeless woman was discovered deceased, her body concealed within a suitcase. The Seattle, Washington, investigative team is now tasked with unraveling the circumstances surrounding the death of 37-year-old Shannon Marie Caslin Reeder, as well as identifying the individual responsible for her grim fate.
Tim Emerson, the program director for We Heart Seattle, a group dedicated to aiding the homeless, expressed his shock and revulsion at the discovery. He stated that it was one of the most appalling and repugnant incidents he had ever encountered, struggling to comprehend how one person could inflict such an act upon another.
The gruesome discovery was made during a separate incident near a homeless encampment in the vicinity of Dr. Jose Rizal Park in Seattle. A man had been shot and injured, prompting law enforcement and outreach workers to clear the area. On September 27, amidst the cleanup, workers stumbled upon the suitcase containing Reeder’s remains in a pile of discarded items.
Emerson noted that violence was not uncommon in the area, emphasizing the need for vigilance and caution. He urged individuals to be aware of their surroundings, understand who they were interacting with, and know when to remove themselves from potentially dangerous situations.
Investigators are currently piecing together a timeline leading up to Reeder’s death. They are appealing to anyone who may have seen or had contact with her in the past year. The Washington State Patrol has confirmed that the last sighting of Reeder was in November 2023.
Authorities are urging anyone with potentially useful information regarding Reeder’s death or the disposal of her remains to come forward. They are particularly interested in any knowledge of individuals who may have been involved in the incident.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is in the process of determining the cause of Reeder’s death, as reported by The Seattle Times.