Sequim man found dead in apartment; autopsy slated to determine cause of death

SEQUIM — An autopsy will determine the cause and manner of death of a 29-year-old man whose body was discovered Friday morning at 147½ W. Washington St. in Sequim.

Joel Hilt, who police say had long lived in the Sequim area but had no fixed address, was discovered by his brother and a roommate when they awoke, according to Detective Sgt. Sean Madison of the Sequim Police Department.

All three men had been sleeping in the second-floor apartment, Madison said.

“We have reason to believe that there had been recent drug use” on the scene, the sergeant said, but only an autopsy and, possibly, toxicological tests can determine if Hilt died of an overdose.

Autopsy results are not expected until later this week.

It could take weeks for toxicology test results to be returned, according to Madison.

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