Authorities identify woman found in West Central unit; investigation ongoing
Spokane police and the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office have identified the woman whose body was discovered this month inside an apartment closet in the city’s West Central neighborhood. The decedent is 34-year-old Krystin Pirtle, and the medical examiner is awaiting determinations on the official cause and manner of death.
Police say they interviewed the tenant of the unit, 50-year-old Larry A.A. Walton, who lives at 1528 W. Gardner Ave.. Investigators have described Walton as a "person of interest" in the ongoing probe, but spokespeople emphasized that designation does not necessarily mean he is a suspect.
"He was interviewed by police and is a 'person of interest' and not necessarily a suspect," said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Tricia Leming.
Officers responded to the Gardner Avenue apartment at about 11 a.m. on July 8 after a contractor from a cleanup and restoration company reported a strong, foul odor and concerning items inside the unit. According to search-warrant documents, the worker had been asked by the landlord to inspect the apartment because of multiple complaints of a smell resembling sewage or a rotting body.
The cleanup employee told 911 dispatchers she located the source of the smell in a closet and saw tarps, black trash bags, and bedding that appeared stained. The worker said the odor was "sour, pungent and like rotting meat." When questioned, Walton reportedly said the materials were soiled clothing treated with bleach because he could not afford laundry services; court records say he displayed nervous behavior.
- Location: 1528 W. Gardner Ave., West Central Spokane
- Decedent: Krystin Pirtle, 34 (identification by Spokane County Medical Examiner)
- Person of interest: Larry A.A. Walton, 50 (interviewed by police; arrested on an unrelated DOC warrant)
- Police response: July 8, dispatched after restoration worker reported suspicious circumstances
Records indicate Pirtle was found inside a closet and that search documents reference severe cranial fractures. The medical examiner has not yet released the official cause or manner of death and continues its examination.
Walton was booked into jail on July 9 on an unrelated Washington State Department of Corrections warrant, according to the department, and was transferred the following day to the Airway Heights Corrections Center, where he remained as of Wednesday. The DOC said the warrant stemmed from a previous probation supervision matter tied to a protection-order violation and failure to report to community corrections in 2020.
What this means for neighbors and the investigation
Investigators have not indicated any broader public threat connected to the discovery. Police described the case as an active investigation and asked anyone with information related to Pirtle’s death to contact Spokane Police Department detectives. For neighbors, the incident has prompted concern about building safety, maintenance and tenant oversight in cases where strong odors or visible problems are reported.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1528 W. Gardner Ave., Spokane |
| Date of police dispatch | July 8 |
| Medical examiner | Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office |
| Current detention | Airway Heights Corrections Center (Walton) |
As the investigation proceeds, the medical examiner’s findings and any additional statements from Spokane police will be crucial to clarifying the circumstances that led to Pirtle’s death. The case highlights the role that property managers, contractors and neighbors play in reporting unusual conditions that may signal a serious problem.
Anyone with relevant information should contact the Spokane Police Department's non-emergency line or the department's homicide unit. Community members seeking support or resources related to safety and housing issues can reach out to local neighborhood services or the Greater Spokane community assistance programs.
