University Place Murder Investigation Turns To Victim's Computers, Phone

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA - The search for the killer of a 55-year-old University Place man is turning to the victim's phone and computer, according to University Place police. Mark Myers was found dead around 11 a.m. Thursday by neighbors. He was shot multiple times, but his home along Sunset Drive West was not ransacked in any way.

Pierce County detectives will search Myers' phone and computer on Friday, University Police Chief Mike Blair said, in pursuit of leads about a suspect. Although the investigation is in its extremely early stages, police believe Myers was targeted.

Police also learned that Meyers had spoken to a friend on the phone at around 10 p.m. Wednesday. They have determined that he was not involved in any illegal activities.

Myers was found after neighbors went to his house to walk his dog. They found him dead inside his home. Police had closed parts of Sunset Drive on Thursday due to the investigation, but police cleared the crime scene on Thursday around 7 p.m.

One neighbor told Patch.com simply, "We are very sad about losing him."

According to the Tacoma News-Tribune, Myers worked in real estate and as a longshoreman.

The last murder in University Place took place in February 2016 when Marcos Perea, 41, walked into the University Place Care Center and killed his estranged girlfriend, Jessica Ortega, 27, a nurse. Perea was killed by police after a chase and shootout along I-5 in Lakewood.

Image via Pierce County Sheriff's Office