Body found during search for missing person in Walla Walla

What started out as report of a missing roommate has turned into a homicide investigation.

Sgt. Matt Wood with the Walla Walla Police Department says they responded to a report of a woman who had found her home in disarray and her roommate missing.

Police found the roommate's body not far from the home.

At approximately 11:00pm Monday night, Oregon State Police notified WWPD that the victim’s vehicle was found in the Baker City area.

A person was arrested for suspicion of theft and attempting to elude law enforcement.

WWPD detectives responded to Baker City and determined that this person arrested in Oregon was the suspect in the homicide under investigation. He has been identified as  23-year old Colby James Hedman.  Hedman is believed to be transient.

As of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, police identified the victim as Kyle Jordan Martz, 35, Walla Walla .

At this time police do not believe that the suspect and victim knew each other.

An autopsy will be scheduled by the Walla Walla County Coroner’s office to determine how Martz died.

The Washington State Patrol and Walla Walla County Coroner's Office are helping with the investigation.