Officials: ‘There is no reason to suspect foul play’ in death

Posted

Kelli Ameling

kameling@ptleader.com

 

Officials have “no reason to suspect foul play” after a dead body was found May 14 in the Boat Haven Marina, which is owned by the Port of Port Townsend.

According to Sgt. Troy Surber, officers from the Port Townsend Police Department were on scene at 10:22 a.m. May 14 near the C Dock when they were informed about the man’s body.

Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas confirmed that the deceased is Anthony Mauhar Jr., of Port Townsend; his next of kin have been notified.

Haas noted Mauhar has a law firm in Sequim.

“There is no reason to suspect foul play at this time,” Haas said, adding an autopsy is set to take place May 16. “The autopsy will be able to tell us much, much more.”

Although the preliminary results of the autopsy will give investigators insight into what happened, Haas said it could take up to 10 weeks for the toxicology report to come back.

The official cause of death will be determined after the autopsy, but Surber said there was water in the man’s lungs – a condition consistent with a drowning death. However, officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, for example whether a medical issue caused Mauhar to fall in the water, whether drugs or alcohol were involved, if he slipped, or whether foul play was involved.

Surber said Mauhar, who was believed to be 68, owns a boat in the marina, near where his body was found.

Surber said officials were on scene until about 12:30 p.m. May 14 and were actively working the case May 15.

More information will be released as it becomes available.