PORT TOWNSEND — The death of a Bainbridge Island man, found underneath a state Highway 20 overpass last weekend, has been ruled a suicide.
Karl Davies, 58, was discovered beneath the overpass a few miles south of Port Townsend at about 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Jefferson County Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole said.
Authorities said Davies jumped from the overpass, which is about 22 feet above the Larry Scott Trail.
Davies was still alive after the fall but died shortly later at the scene, according to police reports.
The investigation is complete, and the death has been ruled a suicide, Nole said, though toxicology reports from the State Patrol Crime Lab are pending.
Jefferson County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Ashcraft, who was on the scene acting as coroner, said Davies did not leave a note but had written “DNR” — do not resuscitate — on his hand and chest.
Things ‘not going well’
Also, a journal with several personal entries was found in Davies’ car, a 1994 Ford Probe.
“‘DNR’ was also written in the journal several times,” Ashcraft said.
“It was clear that things were not going well for him.”
Ashcraft said it was clear to those on the scene that Davies’ head injury was the cause of death.
Along with the Sheriff’s Office, personnel from East Jefferson Fire-Rescue also were on the scene, Nole said.
Davies’ body was at Kosec Funeral Home in Port Townsend on Wednesday.
Nole said he notified two family members, a common-law wife in Bainbridge Island and a brother in Texas.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
