PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Police Department was investigating Tuesday the death of a Port Angeles man who was found dead in his trailer Monday evening.
Police responded at about 5:30 p.m. Monday to a report that Ryan Mongar, 29, was found dead in his trailer in the Peabody Creek RV Park.
“We haven’t determined a cause or manner of death,” said PAPD Chief Brian Smith. “When we have additional information, we’ll look forward to providing that.”
Smith also issued a news release Tuesday afternoon that said no determination has been made as to cause or manner of death.
He called it an active investigation and said several detectives were working on the case.
He added that every unwitnessed death is investigated as a homicide until that is ruled out.
“We aren’t able to rule out anything,” Smith said.
Cpl. Clay Rife said he could not comment on the case.
“I really don’t know,” Rife said. “I’m unable to make further comment at this point.”
Mongar’s body was found when Sherrie Smith, park manager, checked on him, she said in a phone interview Tuesday.
She said she hadn’t seen him for a couple of days and wanted to see how he was.
“There wasn’t anything you could see” that showed how he died, Sherrie Smith said.
She said that during the 10 years Mongar lived in the park, she came to know him will.
“He was my friend,” Sherrie Smith said. “Ryan was a very sweet, gentle soul.
“He has been fighting depression all his life, but he has been on an upswing.”
Mongar had recently started attending college and was writing a book, Sherrie Smith said.
He attended Port Angeles High School and had lived in Port Angeles for most of his life, she said. He recently celebrated his 29th birthday.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney/Coroner Mark Nichols said an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
Nichols said he didn’t know any details from the investigation and couldn’t speak as to whether the death was suspicious.
He said the results from the autopsy may not be available for several weeks.
“At minimum, there is a medical uncertainty as to what happened,” he said. “We’re going to see if we can go about removing uncertainty.”
Smith is asking anyone with information that might be helpful to contact PAPD by calling 360-452-4545.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
