Remains found by overpass identified as 81-year-old missing since 2022, WA cops say

The skeletal remains of a missing 81-year-old have been found near an overpass, Washington police said.

Kent officers went to the overpass on Aug. 18 and found human remains, according to an Aug. 26 Facebook post by the police department.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the remains as Larry Martinez, who went missing in 2022, officers said.

Martinez, who had signs of dementia, went missing on June 8, 2022, after walking away from a business, police said.

“I married him at 19 and he is the focus of my life,” his wife, Linda Martinez, told KING 5 in 2022. “We have been married for 60 years, we have had an amazing life, we’re very old.”

Officials don’t believe any foul play was involved in Martinez’s death, police said.

“While this is not the outcome any of us wanted, we are hopeful that locating Mr. Martinez’s remains will bring some closure to his family and friends,” police said.

Kent is about a 20-mile drive south from Seattle.

This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Remains found by overpass identified as 81-year-old missing since 2022, WA cops say."