A Vancouver man has been arrested in connection with the death of a Portland man whose body was found near an Ariel logging road in November.
Troy Brightbill, chief criminal deputy of the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, reports in a Wednesday press release that deputies arrested Joseph Klimas III, 45, of Vancouver on suspicion of murdering Cesar Reyes, 46.
Reyes died from a gunshot wound to the head before his body was found on a logging road near milepost 42 on Lewis River Road, near Lake Merwin, authorities report.
Klimas was booked Tuesday night on suspicion of first-degree murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm, jail records show. He was detained in Vancouver and taken to Cowlitz County Jail.
A public defender has been assigned to represent him, and he is being held without bail, according to court records.
At about 8:06 p.m., Nov. 11, 2024, Cowlitz 911 received a call about an unresponsive man discovered on the Ariel logging road. A Washington State Patrol trooper was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene, where he determined the man was dead, the sheriff's office reported in November.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Kris Moore at 360-577-3092.
Klimas's next hearing is scheduled for Monday to review bail.
