Cause, manner of death of Kent man, 81, to remain undetermined

Published 9:50 am Thursday, September 18, 2025

The cause and manner of death of an 81-year-old Kent man found in August near State Route 167 will remain undetermined.

Larry Martinez went missing in June 2022 when he walked away from a local business. His skeletal remains were found Aug. 18 near southbound State Route 167, just north of West James Street.

“No anatomic or toxicologic cause of death in skeletonized remains,” the King County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled in its Sept. 17 report.

A medical examiner’s initial report Aug. 25 identified Martinez but listed the cause and manner of death as pending.

No foul play is expected, according to Kent Police.

Martinez had been missing since June 8, 2022. He was 81 when he disappeared and had been experiencing symptoms of dementia, according to police. The Medical Examiner’s Office report listed a death date of June 8, 2022.

Kent Police asked for the public’s help to find Martinez when he disappeared. He was last seen at about 1:30 p.m. on June 8 in downtown Kent at the Pied Piper Pub, 311 W. Meeker St., and had not been heard from since leaving that location, according to police. Martinez had no access to a vehicle and no cellphone on him, according to police. He walked with a limp and his family said he was at risk for falling.

Members of his family, the community and the Kent Police conducted multiple searches and widespread media campaigns to locate him.

Kent Police and Washington State Patrol responded Aug. 18 to investigate the discovery of skeletal remains near SR 167.

“While this is not the outcome any of us wanted, we are hopeful that locating Mr. Martinez’s remains will bring some closure to his family and friends,” according to a Kent Police statement issued in August.