The Lewis County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday identified the body found Friday inside a car in a Chehalis parking lot as Camas teen Cole Burbank.
Burbank was last seen at about 7:45 a.m. April 13 when he left Camas High School in his black 2010 Honda Accord and was believed to be heading to the vicinity of Clark College, where he attended Running Start classes, according to the Camas Police Department.
A search party formed to look for Burbank, with volunteers coordinating their efforts through a Facebook page. That page has since been removed and a memorial page now fills its place.
The search for Burbank ended when his vehicle was found at about 5 p.m. Friday in a shopping center parking lot in Chehalis, Camas Police Officer Debrah Riedl said.
A family friend was among the volunteers who located the vehicle, with Burbank’s body inside, police said.
A message was posted to the Facebook search page late Friday night on behalf of Burbank’s family: “Cole has been found and God has a new angel in his choir. We are incredibly thankful for the overwhelming support and prayers that all of the individuals in this community have shown during this difficult time. We are blessed by your prayers and find comfort in knowing so many of you cared for Cole.”
A memorial for Burbank is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Camas High School and attendees are encouraged to wear black and red, the school’s colors, according to a post on a Facebook page called “Remembering Cole Burbank.”
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office is handling the death investigation, and the Camas Police Department has been told that it will be several weeks before the manner and cause of his death is confirmed.
