In the early morning hours of January 24, 2021, the quiet of the popular Poo Poo Point trailhead in Issaquah, Washington, was broken by a grim discovery. The body of Daren Olin, a 52-year-old male, was found, prompting a 911 call to the King County Sheriff's Office just before 2 a.m. Deputies arriving at the scene initiated what would become a homicide investigation into his suspicious death.
The King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Olin's life was taken by a
gunshot wound to the head. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit cordoned off the area, meticulously searching for any evidence that might shed light on the final moments of Olin's life. The investigation led them to canvass nearby trailheads for any vehicles or clues that could be connected to the crime.
A peculiar and unsettling detail emerged from a neighbor living near the trailhead. The resident reported being startled by his barking dogs around 1:45 a.m. Upon investigating, he encountered a man near his side gate. The stranger claimed his father had been shot at Poo Poo Point and asked to use the neighbor's phone to call for help. The resident obliged and also dialed 911 himself. The unidentified man remained at the house until law enforcement arrived.
Despite the active and ongoing investigation by the King County Sheriff's Office, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with Daren Olin's murder. Authorities have not identified any suspects, and the case remains an open homicide investigation. The violent and sudden loss has left his family, including his mother in Florida, devastated and searching for answers. The authorities continue to ask for the public's help with any information that might lead to a break in the case.
