By Charlie Bermant
Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — The body of a 69-year-old woman was found in the waters of the Boat Haven on Wednesday morning, the result of an apparent suicide.
The woman has been identified, but her name was being withheld pending notice of next of kin, said Port Townsend Police Assistant Chief Mike Evans.
Evans said a suicide note was found in a location outside of the Boat Haven.
He said there was no reason to suspect foul play.
The body was taken to Kosec Funeral Home in Port Townsend, and the coroner was notified.
Evans said the woman did not live in the Boat Haven but was a Port Townsend resident.
The body was discovered by a Coast Guard crew beginning morning drills outside its Boat Haven headquarters.
At about 8:20 a.m., 11 crew members were getting ready to go out on the Coast Guard cutter Osprey when one of the crew spotted a body floating about 60 feet from shore, according to Chad Curth, the officer in charge.
After notifying police, two crew members in a 17-foot boat from the rear of the 87-foot Osprey determined that the woman was dead and could not be rescued, Curth said.
The body was towed to the dock, where personnel from the Port Townsend Police Department and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue were waiting.
A jacket also was recovered, Curth said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
