Burke Gilman Trail turns into crime scene after motorist spots body

SEATTLE -- A popular Seattle trail turned into a crime scene after a woman's body was spotted on the path.

Burke Gilman is a very busy area. But at abut 4:30 a.m. Friday, a motorist noticed a woman's body sprawled out on along the trail and knew something was wrong.

“It’s a little unnerving that it would happen so close,” Seattle resident Meghan Vaughan said.

The 2400 block of North Northlake Way was blocked off to traffic for hours.

Police say the victim was a female in her 20s. The discovery unnerved some people who frequent the trail.

“What brought this about? Could this have happened to me? What was the motivation,” asked Vaughan.

It’s still unclear if the young woman was attacked on the trail or if she was brought to the area but police are sure of one thing.

“We don’t believe this was a random attack,” said Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson.

The killer likely knew the woman but that’s little relief to people who live nearby.

“That’s really scary; I am thinking I will probably try to use it less, especially at 4:30 in the morning,” said Seattle resident Robby Blood.

“I always try to be cognizant after dark, being a woman. Usually when I come out here, I bring a buddy,” said Vaughan.

By Friday evening, the yellow police crime tape was gone and people once again were walking, jogging and bicycling past the area that hours before had been a crime scene.