Benito S. Marquez, left, and Jonathan R. Adamson, right, make their first appearances July 2 in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis.
A second autopsy was recently completed in the murder case of Randle teen Ben Eastman III at the request of one of the two suspects’ defense attorney, who told The Chronicle the request was in the name of due diligence.
Shane O’Rourke, attorney for suspect Benito S. Marquez, 16, said a second autopsy isn’t an unusual request, especially considering the age of his client and the severity of the charges, which include first-degree murder, first-degree rape, tampering with physical evidence and unlawful disposal of remains.
Marquez is co-defendant in the case along with his brother, Jonathon R. Adamson, 21, who faces the same charges. Attorney Don Blair represents Adamson.
Court documents bearing the signature of Judge James Lawler state that a second autopsy was to be performed no later than July 27.
“When you have that severe of a criminal charge and you have a juvenile defendant and you also have the prospect of potentially life sentences in prison, you essentially have to make sure you’re doing, in terms of the defense, you have to make sure that you’re taking advantage of all the opportunities to make sure everything is done properly,” said O’Rourke.
An independent forensic pathologist working with O’Rourke and under the supervision of the Lewis County Coroner’s Office performed the autopsy.
O’Rourke said: “It’s not necessarily because you definitely expect there to be a different cause of death or a major difference between the two reports, but you won’t know.”
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said the request isn’t necessarily the norm, but at the same time, it isn’t considered outlandish. A similar request would only cause him concern if they were following an unreasonable timeline — for example if the request came too long after the time of the alleged murder.
“I think 90-some percent of the public in certain cases tend to have a belief as to what the automatic or the right outcome is, but that does not dictate what our role is,” said O’Rourke. “And what we have to do in order to get to the right outcome in a case.”
For a case that’s drawn significant and strenuous attention, unique elements rear their heads for Marquez, a teen being charged as an adult. While that doesn’t change much as far as the prosecution is concerned, O’Rourke said Washington law allows for exploration of unique options.
“There are requirements for us to explore different options that may not be available in terms of sentencings, in terms of how the case resolves. … You’re almost mandated to take a look at it a little different,” said O’Rourke.
The first autopsy concluded Eastman died of blunt-force trauma to the head, and ruled his death a homicide, according to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.
More recently, the suspects’ mother, Kindra Adamson, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance after she was accused of misleading authorities on details she knew about the case. As part of a plea agreement, Kindra Adamson could play the role of state witness and testify against her sons.
Adamson and Marquez both have trial confirmation hearings scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct. 18 respectively.
Emma Brown, Adamson’s fiancé, was also charged with two counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance.
