Seattle Police are investigating West Seattleite Jeremy Peck’s death as a homicide, and have added his case information to their Catch a Killer website dedicated to unsolved homicides in the city.

SPD Det. Renee Witt confirmed the case is now considered a homicide.

The change was announced on Nov. 6. Prior to the announcement, Peck’s death was classified as a suspicious death by Seattle Police. He disappeared after a night out with friends on Dec. 24, 2010 in West Seattle, and his body was discovered on the shores of Bainbridge Island on Jan. 19, 2011.

According to the Catch a Killer website, “The Seattle Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit initially began investigating Peck’s disappearance, but as detectives learned more about Peck’s death, they turned the case over to the Homicide Unit.”

In a follow-up conversation, SPD declined to release any additional information that led to a transfer to the homicide unit.

According to a search warrant affidavit released to the media in July of 2011, Peck was last seen with friends at the Admiral Pub. Police investigated two people of interest in his disappearance, but no arrests were made.

John Peck, Jeremy’s uncle who raised him since the mid-90’s in West Seattle, has been dealing with the loss of the man he calls his son since his disappearance, and shared his reaction to the news that Jeremy’s case has become a homicide investigation and given additional public exposure.

“I’m happy he’s on the website and maybe they’ll make a billboard somewhere,” Peck said, in reference to SPD’s “Who Killed Me?” billboard and bus advertisement campaign that provides additional exposure to unsolved murders.