16-Year-Old Girl Found Dead in Tidal Area of Washington State

The body of a 16-year-old girl was found in a tidal area where Tulalip Bay meets Battle Creek in Marysville, Washington on Monday morning. The Tulalip Police Department was alerted to the discovery sometime after 9 am and turned the body over to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office, which will provide official identification of the victim and cause of death at a later time.

The girl has been identified by family and friends as Jenzele Couassi, a student in the Marysville school district. Couassi had been reported missing on Friday night and entered into a national database as a missing person by the Marysville Police. Marysville detectives, along with officers from Tulalip PD and members of the Snohomish County Search and Rescue Team, had been searching for the 16-year-old throughout the weekend, deploying two Search and Rescue K9 teams and a Marysville PD drone.

Why this matters: The tragic death of a young indigenous girl struggling with mental health issues has deeply impacted the local community. It highlights the ongoing challenges and need for improved resources to support at-risk youth, especially those from marginalized communities.

Couassi was last seen on Friday, April 19, near Shoultes Road in Marysville, where she lived. Friends say she had been struggling with mental health issues. Hundreds of people attended a vigil held in Couassi's memory on Monday, including two friends who wrote letters to her. "I'm sorry that I couldn't help you when you needed," one letter read. "I'm sorry that you felt so alone." Couassi is survived by her parents and two younger brothers.

At the vigil, Couassi's parents were wrapped in blankets as the community sang traditional songs. An online fundraiser has been launched to help the family with funeral expenses, raising over $4,400 as of April 23. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Marysville Police Department. The official cause and manner of Couassi's death remain unclear pending the medical examiner's report.

Key Takeaways

• 16-year-old Jenzele Couassi's body found in Tulalip Bay, Marysville, WA.
• Couassi had been reported missing on Friday, search efforts ongoing.
• Couassi struggled with mental health issues, deeply impacting local community.
• Vigil held, online fundraiser launched to support Couassi's family.
• Cause and manner of death pending medical examiner's report.