Authorities said Tori Garza was last heard from Feb. 9 and found Feb. 14.
WOODLAND, Wash. — Detectives in southwest Washington said cellphone records, surveillance video and license plate reader data helped them identify a Woodland man now jailed on suspicion of killing a Vancouver woman whose body was discovered on state forest land. The suspect was arrested after a search of his home turned up evidence of foul play, authorities said.
The case centers on the death of 34-year-old Tori Garza, who investigators said was found Feb. 14 near a forest road in eastern Clark County. A family member reported her missing two days later, after friends said they had not heard from her since Feb. 9. Authorities have not released the cause of death, but described the circumstances as suspicious and said the investigation is continuing as detectives work to narrow down where Garza was in her final hours and how she crossed paths with the suspect.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and detectives were called Feb. 14 to state forest land near DNR-1100 Road, where a body had been reported in a wooded area. Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit worked with the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office and quickly determined the death appeared suspicious, the sheriff’s office said. At that point, officials have said they kept most details private, a common step in early homicide cases to protect the integrity of interviews and evidence collection. Investigators have not said how long the body had been at the location or what injuries were found, and they have not described whether the scene suggested the woman died there or was moved there.
On Feb. 16, a family member told authorities they had not heard from Garza, who was last known to be staying at a residence in the 9400 block of Northwest 17th Avenue in Vancouver, the sheriff’s office said. Friends and associates reported she had been out of contact since Feb. 9. Detectives later confirmed the deceased woman was Garza, officials said, adding that she previously used the name Victoria Mills. Investigators served a search warrant at the Vancouver residence that same day but said they found no indication of foul play inside the home, leaving detectives to widen the search beyond that address.
As they worked to reconstruct the victim’s movements, detectives reviewed cellphone records and located an online advertisement for escort services that they said was posted Feb. 9, the day Garza was last known to be communicating with friends. Authorities have not said who created the post or whether it was connected to the suspect, but they described it as part of their effort to understand Garza’s recent activities. Detectives then located cameras along routes they believed the victim’s phone traveled and collected video from businesses and other private parties, the sheriff’s office said. Those images were examined for vehicles and patterns that could be cross-checked against other data sources.
Investigators compared the video to information from automatic license plate reader cameras mounted on sheriff’s office patrol vehicles, officials said. The cross-check helped detectives identify a suspect vehicle and determine it belonged to Andrew Thomas Brunette, 66, who lives in Woodland. On Feb. 24, sheriff’s office detectives, assisted by the Lower Columbia SWAT team and the Woodland Police Department, served a search warrant at Brunette’s home in the 200 block of Marty Loop. The search uncovered evidence of foul play, authorities said, and Brunette was taken into custody.
Neighbors described a sudden shift from routine to flashing lights and police commands. Miguel Favela, who lives nearby, said he watched officers order the man out of the house and recorded video as the arrest unfolded. Favela said Brunette walked out wearing a robe with his hands raised and was taken into custody without incident. Favela’s wife, Niki, said the allegations were hard for families to absorb. “Especially with what they say he’s done, it’s been hard to process, and it’s hard for our kids to process,” she said. Miguel Favela said the neighborhood had felt safe and the news left residents shaken about what may have happened close to where children play.
Authorities said Brunette was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, patronizing a prostitute and unlawful disposal of human remains. The sheriff’s office did not describe what evidence led to those specific allegations, and officials did not say whether additional charges were expected. Prosecutors had not publicly detailed the case in court in the statements released by law enforcement, and it was not immediately known whether Brunette had an attorney available to comment on his behalf. Police also have not explained what investigators believe happened between Feb. 9, when Garza was last heard from, and Feb. 14, when her body was found.
Friends of Garza said the investigation has put her personal life into the public eye in ways that can be painful for those closest to her. Michelle Boothby, a friend who said she last heard from Garza on Feb. 9, said the silence was out of character and immediately alarming. “Tori always kept in contact with those she loved, so it was very unusual when nobody heard from her,” Boothby said. Boothby said she wants Garza remembered as more than a case file, describing her as a caring, funny and intelligent person who mattered deeply to the people around her. Boothby said that even if Garza faced difficulties, she deserved to live.
Officials said detectives are continuing to gather information, review records and interview people who may have seen Garza or had contact with Brunette in the days leading up to Feb. 14. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information about Garza’s activities or Brunette to contact the agency’s tip line as the investigation moves forward.
Author note: Last updated February 27, 2026.