Local News

Arlington man’s death after fight prompts investigation

Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of an Arlington man Wednesday, several hours after he was involved in a fight.

John L. Oster, 57, was driven from his home to Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington early Wednesday morning. He told hospital personnel that he had been involved in a fight several hours earlier, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Oster was later taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died before deputies had a chance to interview him, the Sheriff’s Office said. 

Despite an autopsy, the cause and manner of John L. Oster’s death have yet to be determined, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, Snohomish County Sheriff's Office

Investigators await ID of body found in burned car

Investigators are waiting for the King County Medical Examiner’s Office to identify a body that was found yesterday in the trunk of a burned-out car east of Auburn

“We’re working and processing evidence, but we don’t know who the victim is,” Katie Larson, a spokeswoman for the King County Sheriff’s Office, said today. She said it was unclear when the identification, or a ruling on the cause of death, would be completed.

The case his being investigated by the department’s major crimes division.

Mountain View Fire firefighters found the burned remains in a car trunk early Sunday, after they responded to a car fire. The Sheriff’s Office said the car was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived about 4 a.m. in the area of Southeast 328th Street and Southeast Auburn Black Diamond Road.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: Auburn, death investigation, homicide

Stricken King County Jail inmate dies in hospital

A King County Jail inmate died at a Seattle hospital today after being found unconscious in his cell last week, according to the county’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention

The 33-year old Renton man had been booked into the jail in downtown Seattle on April 9 for investigation of property destruction and harassment, the department said. 

On April 16, a corrections officer found the man in medical distress in his cell and called for assistance, according to a news release. Jail Health staff and Medic One responded and the man was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where he died at 8:30 this morning.

The cause and manner of the man’s death will be determined by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and Public Health-Seattle & King County will conduct an internal investigation, which is standard practice in all jail-related deaths.

Last month, a 41-year-old female inmate died at Harborview after being found ill in her cell.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention., King County Jail

Everett man dies in Whitman Co. kayaking accident

From The Associated Press:

SPOKANE — The man who died in a kayaking accident Sunday on Rock Lake in Whitman County has been identified as a first-year Gonzaga student, 18-year-old Chris Gormley of Everett.

KXLY reports the university president sent a letter to the campus community extending sympathies to his family.

Gormley was among seven kayakers on the lake when winds and rough waves caused three to capsize. One made it to shore. Gormley and another person were rescued and taken to a hospital where Gormley died. The other person was reported in good condition.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: boating accident, death investigation, Everett

Winds complicate search for victims of Bellingham marina fire

From The Associated Press:

Officials are still looking for the bodies of two people presumed dead in the fire Friday that sank their boat at a Bellingham marina.

Divers have been unable to get close to the submerged boat because of poor visibility and the amount of debris in the water.

A crane is being barged in to help, but that operation was complicated this weekend by high winds. More high winds are forecast for Monday.

The missing couple are 43-year-old Jim Langei and 33-year-old Sterling Taylor, who lived aboard a 42-foot power boat. It was one of 10 boats destroyed in the boathouse fire.

Officials expect the investigation of the cause and the cleanup work will take several weeks.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: bellingham, death investigation, fire

King County Jail inmate dies in hospital

A woman who suffered some sort of medical emergency in her cell at the King County Jail has died at Harborview Medical Center, according to the county’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.

The 41-year old Seattle woman had been booked into the downtown Seattle jail on March 20 for investigation of felony domestic violence assault. On Friday morning, a corrections officer found the woman in “medical distress” in her cell and called for assistance, according to a news release. 

Jail medical staff and Medic One responded and the woman was rushed to Harborview, where she died at at 6:19 p.m. Monday.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the cause and manner of the woman’s death.

The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and Public Health – Seattle & King County will investigate the death.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention., King County Jail

2-year-old dies in shower in Whatcom County

From The Associated Press:

The Whatcom County sheriff’s office and Child Protective Services are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy who apparently drowned while taking a shower with his cousins — ages 3 and 5 — at a home near Deming.

Sheriff Bell Elfo says the boy was in the care of his aunt and uncle, but no adults were in the bathroom Friday at the time of the death.

Elfo told The Bellingham Herald his office is waiting for the result of an autopsy scheduled Tuesday and the medical examiner’s report.

Department of Social and Health Services spokeswoman Sherry Hill says it’s investigating to determine whether the death was the result of abuse or neglect.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, Deming, Department of Social and Health Services

Body identified as missing Renton man

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified a body found Tuesday in North Renton as Ratchhin Duong, a 31-year-old man reported missing last week, according to Renton police.

Duong died from self-inflicted wounds to the neck and wrists, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Renton police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Duong in the early morning hours of Feb. 4.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, missing persons case, Renton

Renton police find body near site where missing man's car found

Ratchhin Duong

Authorities have found the body of a deceased male near the site where a missing man’s car was found on Saturday, according to Renton police.

It’s unknown if the body is that of the missing man, Ratchhin Duong. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will have to make the positive ID as well as determine the cause and manner of death, police said.

The body was found around 2:30 p.m. today by Renton detectives and a King County search-and-rescue team.

Duong was last seen at 5 a.m. Friday in the 100 block of Hoquiam Avenue Northeast in Renton. His vehicle was found abandoned Saturday on Interstate 405 near Northeast 44th Street.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, missing persons case, Renton

Police investigate man's death in Tukwila backyard

There is not points to locate on the map

Tukwila police are investigating the death of a 31-year-old man who was found in his backyard last night.

A relative of the man, who lives in the  11600 block of 44^th Avenue South, dialed 911 to report that he had collapsed in the yard, said police spokesman Mike Murphy. Medics were unable to revive him.

While it’s unclear what caused the man’s death, police are investigating because “it’s unusual for a 31-year-old to just die,” Murphy said.

“He didn’t have any apparent trauma that stood out to us. He may just have had a medical ccondition,” Murphy added.

0 comments | More in The Blotter | Topics: death investigation, Tukwila, Tukwila Police Department