Wapato woman’s death a homicide

By Chris Bristol Takima Herald-Republic

The recent death of a 44-year-old Wapato woman has been classified a homicide, launching a joint investigation by Yakama Nation tribal police and the FBI.

Barbara Jean Celestine died Monday at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center, one day after she was injured at the Apas Goudy tribal housing project on Larena Lane.

The case was ruled a homicide after a forensic pathologist performed an autopsy and concluded cause of death was blunt trauma to the head, Yakima County Coroner Maury Rice said Wednesday.

How Celestine was injured remains unclear. Rice said falling, tripping or being shoved was unlikely to have caused a head injury as serious as the one that Celestine had.

"The doctor said a fall wouldn't cause that much damage unless she fell from two-

story building," Rice said, noting the woman also had a number of fresh bruises.

Melissa Schuler, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Seattle, confirmed Wednesday her agency is assisting tribal police with the investigation. Celestine was a tribal member and she was injured at a tribal housing project. The FBI has jurisdiction over serious crimes on Indian reservations.

Tribal police Lt. John Abraham would not comment, referring media inquiries to tribal authorities. A spokesperson for the tribe was not available for comment Wednesday.

No arrests have been made, Schuler said.

Celestine's death was the county's 14th homicide of the year, not counting the discovery of skeletal remains last month in Grandview. The remains are believed to be those of Sharon Lee Mason, who disappeared in 2000.

Rice said Wednesday it's uncertain when pathologists will get lab work back to make a positive identification.

The county's 10-year homicide average is 16.