VANCOUVER, Wash. — A 43-year-old man was arrested Friday in Vancouver in connection with a 2015 murder of a man in Long Beach, Washington.
Pacific County Sheriff's Office arrested Charles Watts for the death of Jeffrey Beach, 36, following a 15-month investigation. Watts was transported to the Pacific County Jail, where he was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, according to the sheriff's office.
"Despite an extensive initial investigation, the case went cold," the sheriff's office said. "However, through hard work and tireless investigative efforts, new leads were developed that ultimately led to the arrest of Charles Watts."
On July 3, 2015, first responders found Beach unresponsive after his friends reported to 911 that he had been assaulted in the sand dunes near 120th Place, reported the Chinook Observer. He was taken to a hospital before being airlifted to a Portland-area trauma center, where he passed due to his injuries. The official cause of death is listed as "blunt force head trauma."
Watts is being held on $2 million bail at the Pacific County Jail.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the tip line at 360-875-9300 ext. 2847, or by email to pcsoinfo@co.pacific.wa.us.
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