Joanna Speaks murdered and found in Washington

Joanna Speaks (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)

A mother of three was found dead near an abandoned barn in Washington state on April 8. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has just released the identity of the victim – Joanna Speaks, 32, of Oregon.

The Ridgefield Police Department was called to the abandoned barn just before 6 p.m. after someone called to report a “deceased body.”

In their original press release, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said the circumstances surrounding the deceased were “under investigation” – but in their latest statement released last week – they confirm that the death of Speaks was ruled a homicide.

Joanna Speaks (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)

“There are indications that the body was moved to this location,” investigators said in the statement. “This is being investigated as a homicide and no further details regarding the circumstances of the body are being released at this time.”

Speaks’ family created a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral expenses. Her family has confirmed that Speaks is a mother of three – her children aged 13, 12 and 7.

“Our family was blindsided by a call that would break us to pieces,” the GoFundMe post reads. “Our heads are still in shock and we are at a loss for words.”

Joanna Speaks (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)

In an interview with KGW8, Speaks’ half-sister said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck and “that’s all we know”.