FORKS — A Forks man likely died of a heroin overdose after he was found unconscious in his home, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
A friend of William Strampher, 60, called 9-1-1 at about 8 a.m. Thursday and told dispatchers Strampher wasn’t breathing, said Sgt. Brian King with the Sheriff’s Office.
Paramedics arriving at Strampher’s home in the 300 block of Steelhead Avenue just north of Forks found Strampher nonresponsive, not breathing and unconscious, and took him to Forks Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, King said.
“At this point, we suspect it was a heroin overdose,” King said Friday, adding that the final determination will come from the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which also serves as the county Coroner’s Office.
“We don’t suspect anything criminal in nature.”
King said needles with heroin and methamphetamine residue were found in Strampher’s home.
King said deputies rarely come across suspected heroin overdose deaths on the West End, adding that Strampher’s death doesn’t appear to be part of any new trend.
According to Clallam County Superior Court records, Strampher pleaded guilty in October 2008 to two counts of delivery of methamphetamine and one count of delivery of heroin.
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison with credit for time served.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
