COYLE — A fisherman found dead March 29 has been identified as Leonard Skoog of Brinnon.
Skoog’s body washed onto the beach at Fisherman Harbor near Quilcene.
Skoog, 71, had lived on his boat there for quite awhile, Jefferson County Undersheriff Andy Pernsteiner said.
“A report was received at 10:48 a.m. of a boat trespassing onto a private dock,” Pernsteiner said. “The 48-foot sailboat had its diesel engine running, but no one was on board.”
The sheriff’s office was called to investigate and found the boat to be abandoned.
Pernsteiner said a couple saw the body washed up on the beach when they went for a walk about a mile from the dock at 6 p.m. the same afternoon. They called 9-1-1 to report the incident.
“From what we can determine, Skoog was tying his boat to the dock and he fell into the water,” Pernsteiner said.
“The tide took him out, and he was found in the muddy flats in Fisherman’s Harbor.”
The case has been turned over to the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office. Philip Hunsucker, the chief civil deputy prosecuting attorney, said Tuesday the cause of death is pending additional investigation by the sheriff’s office.
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Jefferson County Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.