WA State Patrol, forensic engineers investigating death in Evergreen student housing
Washington State Patrol detectives are working with a forensic engineering firm that specializes in carbon monoxide poisonings to investigate a Monday night death at The Evergreen State College, the agency announced Wednesday.
Jonathan Rodriguez, 21, of DuPont died, one of three people suspected of being poisoned by the odorless, colorless gas around 8 p.m. Monday night in student housing at the west Olympia college.
Earlier Monday, an alarm company contracted by the college responded to carbon monoxide alarms, Evergreen spokeswoman Farra Layne Hayes said. Hayes said she did not have details about what that response entailed or whether the alarms came from the same modular housing unit where the student died.
Hayes said Wednesday that she did not have further information about the conditions of the hospitalized students or if they had been released. The State Patrol had no update on the hospitalized students. The Thurston County Coroner’s Office, which is only notified when someone dies, also did not have an update, Coroner Gary Warnock said Wednesday.
The name of the engineering firm and their findings will be provided when the investigation is complete, according to WSP spokesman Chris Loftis.
“We’re hopeful we can wrap it up as soon as possible,” Loftis said Wednesday.
Carbon monoxide is produced by the burning of fuels, including gas, wood, propane or charcoal. If not properly ventilated, appliances and engines can cause it to build up to dangerous levels.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 13, 2023 at 12:57 PM with the headline "WA State Patrol, forensic engineers investigating death in Evergreen student housing."
