Elma man charged with manslaughter in woman's death

Police have arrested an Elma man in connection with the death of a woman whose decomposing body was found in a ravine near Schafer State Park.

Joshua Morris, 43, was seen on video surveillance May 22 leaving the Lucky Dog Casino with Joanna Ruth Saunders, 29, according to court documents.

Saunders was later identified as the body found June 11 on West Beerbower Road in Elma, about 1 mile away from the state park.

Mason County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Morris on July 3 for manslaughter.

Deputies discovered Saunders June 11, after gravel pit employees called.

“Employees for Northwest Rock arrived at the location to move a piece of equipment and noted the strong smell of decomposition near the locked gate leading into the pit. Upon checking the wooded area adjacent to the gate, the decomposing body of an adult female was discovered in the brush on the embankment below the road,” the probable cause document states.

Deputies noted clothing on the body and found no other belongings.

“It appeared the body was likely transported to the location in a vehicle and discarded over the embankment in an attempt to deter its discovery,” MCSO Detective Helser wrote.

The deceased was clinching a temporary Washington driver’s license belonging to Saunders and Mason County Coroner Jaime Taylor was able to positively identify the body by comparing tattoos to photos on Saunders’ social media, according to the probable cause document.

The advanced state of decomposition made an obvious cause of death impossible.

Saunders previously lived in Spokane but was currently homeless, court documents state.

“Saunders’ family indicated that she had been estranged due to her mental health and substance abuse issues,” Helser wrote.

Police obtained search warrants for Saunders’ phone records and obtained the casino footage after learning she is a frequent patron.

“It is important to note, Saunders was depicted on video surveillance wearing the same clothing she was later found deceased in. Additionally, this was the last confirmed proof of life for Saunders,” the probable cause document states.

The video shows Saunders get into a car driven by Morris and police were able to trace the license plate of the vehicle back to him.

Deputies spoke with Morris on June 17.

He said he “vaguely remembered almost a month ago running into Joanna at the Shelton Safeway,” Helser wrote.

Morris said he drove Saunders to the Lucky Dog Casino and later picked her back up there and gave her a ride to Olympia, where he dropped her off at a bus stop, according to court documents.

“Morris stated he has not seen or heard from her since,” Helser wrote.

Detectives say evidence proves otherwise.

An analysis of Morris’ and Saunders’ cellphone records showed the two devices traveled May 23 from the casino to an area where Saunders’ body was found, the probable cause document states.

Saunders’ phone then goes off network and there is no further communication, according to the document.

On July 3, Helser received a text from Morris that led to Morris’ arrest.

“I have not committed any crimes idk know what happened with that girl man I woke up and she was gone I couldn’t help her cause I didn’t know how and I choked out man I have a week stomake and cannot see anything I left to trying get cell service…” part of the message reads.

“She got drugs from the person at the casino,” the message said, according to Helser.

Detectives immediately went to Morris’ home and found him walking by the state park, where he flagged them down.

Helser read Morris his Miranda warning.

Then Morris provided a different story than previously told to police.

He said after he picked Saunders up from Safeway, he drove her to buy methamphetamine at a location by Walmart in Shelton.

Then they drove to a gravel lot by the Pavilion at Sentry Park, where they had sex, and then headed back to Morris’ house in Elma, he said.

Morris told detectives he did not want to wake others at his home, so he parked at the gravel pit and fell asleep while Saunders was in the passenger seat of the car.

“He described being awoken at some point in the night by Saunders asking him for a cigarette. Morris fell back asleep. He awoke in the early morning (5/23/2024) freezing cold from Saunders’ door being ajar. He observed she was slumped over leaning out of the vehicle. Morris described witnessing a needle in Saunders’ right inner arm. He panicked attempting to wake her by providing mouth-to-mouth in the passenger seat of his vehicle,” according to the probable cause document.

Morris then tells several versions of what happened next, according to detectives.

First Morris said he moved her over the embankment, then later stated Saunders “rolled down the embankment,” the document states.

“Morris stated he did not attempt to get to her or render further medical aid because he knew he was incapable of getting her out of the ravine,” Helser wrote.

Morris said he went home to charge his cellphone, intending to call an ambulance, but never did.

“In the days following Saunders’ death, Morris took her personal belongings out of his Volkswagen hatchback. He placed them into his Dodge pickup, transported them to Heartland Dr., and threw them out because he could not look at them any longer,” according to court documents.

Police found Saunders’ purse and other items on Heartland Drive on June 22.

Detectives say Morris told them Saunders was still alive when he rolled her over the embankment.

Morris is in custody awaiting charges and has an arraignment July 15 in Mason County Superior Court before Judge Monty Cobb.