BALLARD, Wash. — Two men suspected of dumping a woman’s body in a Ballard shopping cart have been identified by Seattle police.
The two, 56-year-old Michael Tarp and 33-year-old Michael Kircher, have been charged with “unlawful disposal of human remains” and failing to notify the coroner of Ann Zachariasen’s death outside of their RV.
Police say Tarp and Kircher dumped Zachariasen’s body -- after she suffered a fatal overdose -- to avoid drawing attention to drug activity at their motor home.
Zachariasen's body was found around 6 a.m. on Nov. 19 -- by an employee of an upholstery shop in Ballard arriving at work.
The employee noticed a debris-filled shopping cart that hadn’t been there the night before.
When he tried moving the cart, Zachariasen’s arm fell out of a large, blanket-bound bundle inside.
During review of area surveillance footage, police saw two men pushing the shopping cart -- but they were not identifiable.
From further investigation, police learned a man living in an RV under the Ballard Bridge had told a witness he had recently moved a body.
Police identified the man as Michael Tarp. They found him on Dec. 21 at his RV.
Tarp said he found Zachariasen dead outside of his RV and enlisted Kircher to help move her, to keep police away from their own drug activities.
Tarp denies having provided Zachariasen with any drugs.
Zachariasen had lived on the streets of Ballard for years.
needsHELP:Ann's family is raising funds so they can pay to have Ann cremated and brought home. Please help if you can....
Posted by Facing Homelessness on Friday, January 22, 2016
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