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Homicide investigation underway after body found in Seabeck park

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SEABECK, Wash. — Police in Seabeck are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead near Scenic Beach State Park Saturday night.

The body was found on a leafy road, in the shadow of the Hood Canal.  A passerby called 911, but medics could not revive the man.

Kitsap County sheriff's Detective Lt. Earl Smith says the victim is 30-year-old Hector Ricardo Apodaca. A check of his criminal history reveals he has numerous arrests for drugs, burglary and theft. Investigators say they don't know where the Bremerton man was murdered nor why his body was found in Seabeck.

"That's one of the things that investigators are narrowing down," Smith said.

Just three weeks ago, four members of a local businessman's family were murdered, three of them inside their home on Tenino Road West, also in Seabeck.   The remains of the patriarch, John Careaga, were found a day later in his burned out truck.

A map shows where these murder scenes are in Seabeck. The Careagas lived 7.5 miles from Misery Point Road, where Apodaca was found.

The community is home a little more than 1,000 people.

"We understand the anxiety that this has probably caused our community," said Smith. "But detectives are working hard. And we do need the public to come forward with information that they do have."

"On both?" he was asked.

"On both homicides," he replied.

He says they don't believe either homicide was random. The victims likely knew whoever killed them. But he says they do need the public's help.

If you know anything about these homicides, you are asked to call 911.  You may do so anonymously.