A Tonasket man has been arrested for murder and arson in connection to human remains, later identified as his wife, found in a car trunk in June.
Lance R. Bowers, 37, had remained in Okanogan County Jail on firearms possession charges. He was arrested Thursday for first-degree murder and first-degree arson and is being held on $1.5 million bail, according to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 3, firefighters responded to a vehicle fire on Frosty Creek Road east of Tonasket, where human remains were discovered in the trunk of the car. Sheriff’s office officials say the remains were “burnt beyond recognition.”
During the investigation, deputies contacted Bowers, who allegedly drew a firearm on the two deputies. Bowers was shot by deputies and treated at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee before being booked into jail for first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.