Former Sequim resident found dead in Yakima County

An update to this story can be read here.

Few details are available in the homicide of a 34-year-old Toppenish woman with Sequim roots.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office reported on Jan. 9 that Stephanie Curtis, formerly of Sequim, was found dead four miles south of Ellensburg near milepost 21 on State Route 821.

Staff with the sheriff’s office told local media outlets Curtis was found around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, near the highway and an autopsy later revealed she was shot.

Curtis’ death remains under investigation and is being treated as a homicide, sheriff’s staffers report.

An obituary for Curtis stated she is survived by her husband Ebigael Torres of Sequim and three children, also of Sequim, along with her parents Ricardo and Alma Ayala of Wapato and Julie Curtis of Tacoma, and several brothers and sisters.

She was raised in Wapato and grew up Catholic, the obituary states, and enjoyed walking, spending time with her children and drinking coffee.

Curtis worked as a laborer and a housekeeper.

A visitation and recitation of the rosary was held on Monday at Colonial Funeral Homein Toppenish, and her Mass of Christian Burial was set for Tuesday near Wapato at Reservation Community Memorial Park.

Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office staff could not be reached for a follow-up on the investigation by Tuesday.