An investigation into a suspicious death in Clark County has led to a Woodland man being arrested after investigators found signs of foul play in his home after a search warrant was served on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Detectives with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) began the investigation after a 34-year-old Vancouver woman’s body was found on state forest land in eastern Clark County in February.
CCSO deputies and detectives responded to a deceased female located on state forest land near the DNR-1100 Road in eastern Clark County on Feb. 14. Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office, determined the death was suspicious. Specific details of the death are not being released at this time, according to a news release by CCSO.
Two days later, on Feb. 16, a family member reported that 34-year-old Tori Garza had not been heard from. Garza was last known to be staying at a residence in the 9400 block of Northwest 17th Avenue in Vancouver. According to investigators, she had not been in contact with associates since Feb. 9.
Detectives later determined the deceased female was Garza, who previously went by the name Victoria Mills, CCSO stated.
On Feb. 16, investigators executed a search warrant at the Northwest 17th Avenue residence where Garza had been staying. CCSO reported that no signs of foul play were found inside the home.
As the investigation continued, detectives reviewed Garza’s recent activities, including reviewing her cellphone records, and located an online advertisement for escort services that was posted on Feb. 9, CCSO stated.
Detectives located cameras in the areas the victim’s cellphone travelled to and were assisted by private parties who provided video clips to investigators. The video was analyzed and compared to Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) data obtained from cameras mounted on CCSO patrol vehicles, the release stated.Through that process, detectives identified a suspect vehicle. Investigators determined the vehicle was registered to Andrew Brunette, 66, who lives in the 200 block of Marty Loop in Woodland.
On Feb. 24, CCSO detectives, assisted by Lower Columbia SWAT and the Woodland Police Department, served a search warrant at Brunette’s residence in the 200 block of Marty Loop in Woodland.
Brunette was taken into custody. During the search of the home, detectives reported locating evidence of foul play, the release stated.
Brunette was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail by the Woodland Police Department for first-degree murder, patronizing a prostitute and unlawful disposal of human remains, according to Cowlitz County Jail records.
Anyone with information about the activities of Garza or Brunette is asked to contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 564-397-2847.
