Woodland, WA – A Cowlitz County man has been arrested after deputies discovered a body hidden on his property following a homicide investigation earlier this month, according to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said that on December 16, 2025, dispatchers received a call reporting suspicious circumstances in the 3600 block of Old Lewis River Road in Woodland. The caller reportedly told 911 that 67-year-old Ricky Dean Miller had claimed to have killed someone.
Deputies responded to Miller’s residence, where they obtained a search warrant and located a deceased man identified as 71-year-old Dennis Eugene Schmitt. Investigators said Schmitt’s body was found hidden inside a barrel on the property. Schmitt had reportedly been renting from Miller, with both living in separate dwellings on the same parcel.
An autopsy conducted on December 19 determined that Schmitt had suffered multiple blunt-force injuries to the head and showed evidence of strangulation, according to forensic examiners.
Miller was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains. Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact Detective James Hanbery at 360-577-3092.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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