2 arrested in connection to WA man buried in shallow grave

2 suspects arrested after WA man's body found in shallow grave

Two people have been arrested in connection to a body found buried near the Nisqually River last week.

YELM, Wash. - Two people have been arrested in connection to a body found buried near the Nisqually River last week.

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday they arrested a man and a woman, both in their mid-30s, from the Yelm area in connection to the homicide investigation. According to authorities, the two were booked into jail for rendering criminal assistance, tampering with physical evidence and unlawful disposal of human remains.

Notably, charges do not include murder or manslaughter, and it is unknown what their role was in the murder of Robert Erwin.

Erwin was found buried in a shallow grave near Yelm on June 7, 2024. The sheriff's office determined he was shot and killed, but have not pieced together a motive for the crime.

WA man found dead in shallow grave was 'murdered and dumped'

A family is searching for answers after a man was found murdered, buried in a shallow grave in Yelm, Washington.

Initially treated as a missing person case, Thurston County sheriff's officials previously told the Douglass, Erwin's family, that the rumors of his murder were unfounded. The revelation of Erwin's murder by gunfire, as shared by his sister Amanda Douglass, came as a shocking twist to their ongoing fear for his safety.

It is unknown if the two arrested Thursday are also under investigation for murder.