Two teenage boys, both 16, were discovered dead under peculiar circumstances along Interstate 5, near Seattle, Washington. The bodies of the victims, found less than half a mile apart, suggest a disturbing connection between their murders.

The lifeless bodies of Jahaz Phillips and Myion Coleman, both 16 years old, were discovered within a 10-hour span along the same highway.

The first body was located on the night of March 21, 2024, around 10:30 p.m., by a passerby who noticed it in a ditch near North 85th Street and Interstate 5. The following morning, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the second teenager was found in a ravine near the Northbound ramp of Northeast 85th Street. Dense vegetation and a high concrete barrier concealed both bodies from public view.

Postmortem examinations determined that both Phillips and Coleman had died from gunshot wounds, debunking earlier theories of a vehicular accident. This crucial finding steered the Washington State Patrol towards a focused homicide investigation.

A relative of Jahaz disclosed to local media that the teenagers had a close relationship and were usually seen together, rarely without each other’s company.

Through discussions with the families of both boys, Trooper Rick Johnson of the Washington State Patrol in King County confirmed the connection between their deaths. However, the exact nature of this linkage remains undetermined.

Local resident Jake Rower expressed his distress to the media, stating, “The younger it is, the more heartbreaking. This is the most extreme thing I’ve heard happening here anyway.”

A GoFundMe campaign was created in memory of Jahaz to help his family with funeral expenses. A family member, who started the fundraiser, praised Jahaz for his intelligence and charm, and lamented his untimely death due to gun violence, a tragedy he shared with his closest friend.

The family member further highlighted Jahaz’s charismatic personality, his magnetic sense of humor, and his roles within the family as a beloved brother, son, uncle, and grand-uncle.

In a media conversation, a family member spoke of Jahaz’s close relationship with his late mother, describing her as his pillar of support. The family was profoundly affected by her loss, and Jahaz’s death has dealt them another devastating blow. Despite often being the youngest at gatherings, Jahaz’s spirit was described as the most vibrant and tangible.

The GoFundMe campaign has raised over $8,700 with a goal set at $10,000.

A separate fundraising page was established for Myion to aid his mother, Myisha, in this tragic time. An anonymous donor posted on the page, “Myion was a classmate of my own child during their middle school years, and he consistently tried to show kindness in situations where others might not. It’s a tragedy that no young person or parent should face. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow.” The fundraiser has collected over $6,000 towards a $15,000 goal.

With the perpetrators still at large, the public is urged to share any information that could assist in the ongoing investigation. Trooper Johnson said, “We need help moving this forward. Someone saw and knows something, so we are looking for that.”