Man hangs himself outside hospital

Man found hanging from tree behind Jefferson Healthcare

PORT TOWNSEND — A man died early Wednesday morning when he hanged himself in a tree near Jefferson Healthcare hospital, police said.

The man was found hanging by witnesses at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday behind Jefferson Healthcare and Manresa Castle, who then called the Port Townsend Police Department, said Police Chief Thomas Olson.

The man was unidentified Wednesday evening, as it was unknown if next of kin had been notified. He was described as a white male in his 20s, Olson said.

Officials confirmed the death was by suicide after watching security footage of the incident that was recorded before sunrise Wednesday, Olson said.

“We’ve observed security video from the hospital and watched the incident on video and it was very clear it was suicide,” Olson said. “Based on security video it was confirmed that it was a suicide and there were no other parties involved based on that.”

The investigation by the police is “pretty much closed” due to the clarity of the incident on video and no criminal actions were observed, Olson said.

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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.

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