Centralia police probe death of Port Angeles woman
By Tom Callis, Peninsula Daily News
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Boyd, 20, was found deceased at 11 a.m. on Sunday in a Centralia home.
A celebration of her life is planned on Saturday in Port Angeles, said her mother Cherilyn Reed.
Centralia Police Chief Bob Berg said the Police Department believes that her death was caused by mixing a prescription drug with alcohol the night before.
Centralia police Sgt. Patrick Fitzgerald said Boyd had visited a few bars Saturday night with some friends by using an older sister's identification.
Fitzgerald said there is no evidence of foul play.
Berg said charges of homicide by delivery of a controlled substance could be filed against whoever provided Boyd the prescription drug if a toxicology test proves that it caused her death.
The test could take from six to seven weeks to complete, he said.
Berg said it would be premature for the Police Department to look at any possible suspects until the test results are complete.
"First we have to determine if that had anything to do with her death," he said.
At this point, it is not clear if she got the prescription drug in Centralia, Berg said.
Fitzgerald said the prescription drug is believed to be either hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, or Vicodin, because those are the most widely used by young people for recreational purposes.
Berg said the same charges had been filed in three other cases in Lewis County in the last two years.
Celebration of life
Boyd's friends and family will gather from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at 110 S. Penn St. in Port Angeles to celebrate her life, said Cherilyn Reed, Boyd's mother.
"It's something to give her friends closure," she said.
"She had a lot of friends.
"We will be sharing our memories.
"It will be exactly that."
Reed said she was notified of her daughter's death on Sunday night by the Clallam County Sheriff's Department.
"You know when they are calling and coming out, you know it's not good," she said.
Boyd was visiting her boyfriend in Centralia at the time, Reed said.
Reed said Boyd, who graduated from Port Angeles High School in 2006, wanted to become a nurse.
She took classes at Peninsula College periodically, when she could afford to, her mother said.
Reed said Boyd was working in the home nursing program at Caregivers Caregivers Home Health Inc: in Port Angeles.
Reed said Boyd has two older sisters, a younger sister, and three younger brothers.
The family grew up in Port Angeles, Reed said.
Reed said a private service will be held for the family.
"She was just a wonderful, beautiful girl," she said.
"She will be missed by everybody."
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: September 04. 2008 9:00PM