TikTok TikTok users found a dead body in a suitcase in Seattle.
A viral TikTok video shows two teenage girls discovering a suitcase containing body parts on a Seattle beach, and police say that human remains were found. The teens used the Randonautica app, which randomly sent them to the location.
The victims were later identified as Jessica Lewis and her boyfriend Austin Wenner. You can read more about their lives here. The killer(s) is not known. The motive isn’t, either.
In the TikTok video, two girls are at the beach and discover a black suitcase on the rocks. When they open it, they discover a black bag inside and reveal it smells awful.
The post by TikTok user “Ugh Henry” is captioned, “Something traumatic happened that changed my life checkkkk 😐🥺 @natthecvt #fyp #viral #crime #murder #randonautica #randonauting #scary #washington.” In the video, another caption explains, “Randonaut sent us to this part of the beach… and we found this black suitcase. We were joking that maybe the suitcase would have money. As SOON as she opened it, the smell was overwhelming.”
The girls called the police. They said they were getting scared and nervous. Pretty soon, police arrived, and it turned into a crime scene. Then it got real.
@ughhenrySomething traumatic happened that changed my life checkkkk 😐🥺 @natthecvt ##fyp ##viral ##crime ##murder ##randonautica ##randonauting ##scary ##washington ♬ Creepy, scary, horror, synth, tension – Sound Production Gin
According to Wired, Randonautica “is using a random number generator to produce specific coordinates within a set radius of your current location that you can travel to as a way of exploring the world around you. People gather these coordinates through a dedicated app, Randonautica, where they can further define what they want to encounter.”
Wired explained, “The app encourages users to set a personal intention before visiting a location, in the hopes of uncovering ‘synchronicities,’ coincidences or occurrences outside usual patterns of experience.” The hashtag #radonautchallenge has taken off on TikTok in particular.
Here’s what you need to know:
Police Revealed Several Bags ‘Containing Human Remains’ Were Discovered Near the Water
On June 30, police in Seattle wrote, “Seattle Police homicide detectives, working closely with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, have identified the remains of two individuals found inside bags last week at Duwamish Head in West Seattle. Detectives have identified a 27-year-old male and a 36-year-old female. Detectives do not believe this case is connected to any other investigations in the Puget Sound area.”
A GoFundMe page names the victims as Jessica Lewis, 35, and Austin Wenner, 27. They were both shot.
FacebookJessica Lewis and Austin Wenner.
The Seattle Police Department confirmed the discovery in a news release, writing on June 19, “Detectives are currently investigating after several bags containing human remains were located near the water in the 1100 block of Alki Avenue SW this afternoon.” The statement continued:
Police responded after receiving a call of a suspicious bag on the beach. Another bag was located in the water. Once the contents were determined to be remains, detectives responded to begin their investigation. Harbor Patrol is assisting on the call, and detectives will work closely with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as the investigation proceeds. This remains an active and on-going investigation.
Police are working with the county medical examiner to identify the remains, the release indicated. There is no indication yet whether they belong to one person or more than one person, and no cause of death has yet been determined.
At first, it wasn’t clear what was in the bags. West Seattle blog noted that police found “a black plastic bag that smelled really bad.” A woman wrote on that comment thread, “My kids and I were driving Alki when we happened upon the scene. We saw SPD zipping someone (or something) into a full-size black body bag. And over the radio they talked about sweeping the scene. So much for taking the kids to the beach. My condolences to whoever it may be.”
People found the discovery chilling.
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