Autopsy confirms Malden teen’s body found in N. Spokane County

An autopsy has confirmed that the body found in North Spokane County Wednesday is that of 17-year-old Donavin Stapert.

The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office had been working to located the body of the missing Malden, Wash. teenager since early March.

According to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office, Stapert’s cause of death is still pending on a toxicology report.

A tip led both Spokane and Whitman County sheriff’s deputies to a forested area in North Spokane County Wednesday as part of the search for Stapert’s body.

Three people were arrested for the death and cover-up of Stapert, who was reported missing from Malden on March 8. Authorities believe he died on or about March 7 at a Malden home and his body was moved.

James Ramson, 30, of Spokane was booked into the Whitman County Jail on charges of Unlawful Disposal of Human Remains, Rendering Criminal Assistance and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Chastity Barkhuff, 38, of Malden was booked into the Whitman County Jail on charges of Controlled Substance Homicide, Providing a Controlled Substance to Persons Under Age 18 and Rendering Criminal Assistance.

Acting on an arrest warrant from Whitman County, authorities in Missoula, MT arrested Bobby Bilderback, 44, of Malden at a home in Missoula Monday in connection with Donavin’s death.

This case is still under investigation.