Medical Examiner rules drugs as cause of death for bodies found at Tacoma recycler
Jul 17, 2023, 9:09 AM | Updated: 9:45 am
(Photo from KIRO 7)
(Photo from KIRO 7)
Update 7/17:
The two men found dead at a Tacoma recycling plant back in April have been determined to have died from drug overdoses.
The Tacoma News Tribune reports that was the determination from the Pierce County Medical Examiner.
It’s unclear how the two men, 33 and 36 years old, ended up at the JMK Fibers recycling facility in the Tacoma Tideflats.
The medical examiner found they both had high levels of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and methadone.
Original 4/25:
Tacoma police have confirmed that they have found not one but two bodies at the Waste Management recycling plant in Tacoma.
The first man’s body was found on April 12, and the second on April 15. Police have not officially identified the two victims, but KIRO 7 spoke with both families.
Darlene Lindsay is Jeremy Lindsay’s mom and said this has been gut-wrenching.
“My heart just drops. It’s just breaking me to pieces,” she said.
Stacey Hillis is Zack Hillis’ dad. He said he was the last person to see his son alive. The two families discovered that their sons were together after police confirmed both bodies had been found at the plant.
“It was almost bittersweet because my son didn’t die alone, is what I’m thinking, because they had met in jail,” Hillis said.
The families told KIRO 7 that both of their sons struggled with addiction and met while serving time in jail. Both families said they just want answers as to how their sons ended up at a recycling plant.
“We just haven’t got any answers that we’re looking for. I mean, that’s our son, he’s gone, and nobody is telling us anything,” Hillis said. At this point, Tacoma police have said they don’t suspect foul play.
“There were no homicidal injuries that were immediately observed, but we’re still doing a thorough investigation, still waiting for that medical examiner’s final cause of death to come in,” said Shelbie Boyd with the Tacoma Police Department.
This is still an active investigation, and if you have any information, call Tacoma police.
