Body of 52-year-old Silverdale woman found floating off South Kitsap, sheriff's office says

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. --  The body of a  woman on Friday was found floating in the water close to the shoreline of Rich Passage in South Kitsap. She was identified as Belinda Lee Palmer, 52, of Silverdale, the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office said.

Local residents in the 5700 block of Watauga Beach Drive East in South Kitsap first spotted the body in the water and called 911 at about 12:30 p.m., the sheriff's office said.

An autopsy  is scheduled for Monday. The coroner will make a determination as to the cause and manner of death.

The sheriff's  investigation continues. Persons with information concerning this investigation are asked to contact Kitsap County sheriff’s detectives at 360-337-7111, reference case report K16-007279.