A missing person investigation in Washington state has escalated into a homicide probe after human remains were discovered on military property, leading to the arrest of two people, including an active-duty service member. The investigation began on June 12, when the Tacoma Police Department received a missing person report for local resident Caelick Bradley, 28, who was last seen June 8, according to Washington State Patrol. Tacoma detectives soon discovered an unauthorized person was actively using Bradley's credit card, which led them to a suspect identified as Humberto Rodriguez Hernandez.
During police questioning, Hernandez provided details about a murder that took place on Addison Street SW in the neighboring city of Lakewood, Lakewood Police Department officials told Fox News Digital. He subsequently led detectives to human remains in a publicly accessible training area on Joint Base Lewis-McChord property near Spanaway, Washington. Authorities said Hernandez also implicated a second suspect, Aydee Casado-Dominguez, who was later detained outside her home.
Both Hernandez and Casado-Dominguez have been charged with homicide and booked into the Pierce County Jail, LPD officials said. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Joint Base Lewis-McChord confirmed the discovery of the remains and revealed that one of the two suspects taken into custody by the Tacoma Police Department is a service member currently assigned to JBLM. The Army Criminal Investigation Division is now working closely with both the Tacoma and Lakewood police departments on the ongoing investigation.
While the remains were found following the investigation into Bradley's disappearance, official identification and the cause of death are pending an examination by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. The exact date of the homicide remains unclear. The case has drawn attention due to the involvement of military property and an active-duty service member, raising questions about security and oversight on the base.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, located south of Tacoma, is a major military installation that houses thousands of service members and their families. The training area where the remains were found is described as publicly accessible, which may complicate the investigation. Authorities have not released additional details about the relationship between the suspects and the victim, nor have they specified the nature of the homicide charges.
The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information to come forward. The case highlights the challenges of coordinating between civilian and military jurisdictions in criminal investigations. As the medical examiner works to confirm the identity and cause of death, the community awaits further developments in this tragic case.