Officials: Dead man found on spit Aug. 31 drowned

Published 12:01 am Friday, September 21, 2012

SEQUIM — Robert Elwood Fitch of Sequim — whose body was found on Dungeness Spit last month — drowned, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said.

It said no foul play was suspected.

A beachcomber reported a body lying along the spit at about 8:30 a.m. Aug. 31, Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Cameron said.

Fitch appeared to have drowned while swimming in the waters off the spit.

A neighbor of Fitch’s told police Fitch had left his home the morning of Aug. 30 for the spit but did not return that evening, Cameron said.

A Coast Guard search-and-rescue crew found Fitch’s backpack and clothes on the beach — but no other sign of him while searching that evening.

The next morning, Clallam County sheriff’s deputies investigated a report of a body along the spit.

Fitch reportedly was an avid beachcomber and often frequented the spit.

________

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.