Michael Garcia, Identified As Human Remains Of Colfax Man Missing Since 2016
COLFAX, WA – A nearly decade-long mystery has been partially resolved with the identification of human remains discovered last month as Michael Shawn Garcia, a local man missing since the summer of 2016.
The discovery was made on the night of December 22, 2025, along South Palouse River Road, just outside the city limits. A citizen walking their dog reported finding what appeared to be human remains, prompting a response from the Colfax Police Department and the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.
The skeletal remains were recovered and transferred to the Whitman County Coroner’s Office. Through forensic analysis, officials confirmed the identity as Garcia, who was born on July 20, 1968. He was last seen in July 2016.
Authorities stated that due to the advanced state of decomposition and the significant passage of time, a definitive cause and manner of death could not be determined. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s disappearance and death remains active and open.
The identification brings a measure of closure to a long-standing missing persons case, though many questions persist. Investigators are urging anyone with information related to Michael Shawn Garcia or his 2016 disappearance to contact Investigator Carlos Trevino or Colfax Police Chief Mike Melcher.
