Homeless Woman Found Stuffed Dead in Suitcase a Year After Last Sighting

October 8, 2024

WASHINGTON: A homeless woman's body was found stuffed in a suitcase, nearly a year after her last confirmed sighting.

Shannon Marie Caslin Reeder, 37, was identified as the victim, and authorities are now working to determine her cause of death and identify those responsible for her gruesome disposal.

On September 27, outreach workers and law enforcement clearing a homeless encampment near Dr. Jose Rizal Park stumbled upon a suitcase in a trash pile. To their horror, they found Reeder's remains inside.

Tim Emerson, program director for We Heart Seattle, a homeless outreach group, described the scene as "one of the most heinous, disgusting things" he'd ever heard.

Emerson noted that violence was not uncommon in the area, saying, "There's always a worry and a concern... You always just have to be smart, watch your backs, and know who you're dealing with and when to walk away."

Investigators are reconstructing Reeder's final months, seeking anyone who may have seen her or had contact with her since her last confirmed sighting in November 2023.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office is working to determine Reeder's cause of death.

Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward, particularly those who may have knowledge of Reeder's activities or interactions in the past year.

Contact:

- Detective John Ford: 425-401-7742

- Detective Ivan Sergeev: 425-401-771

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