Operator and Victim had lived on Operator's 27' sailboat for the last 14 months.  They left the guest moorage at Kingston (west side of Puget Sound) and motored to Edmonds Marina (east side of Puget Sound, north of Seattle) for propane.  There was no propane in Edmonds so they motored south and then intended to go into Shilshole Bay Marina but decided against it.  It was starting to get dark and they decided to head west towards Blake Island using a GPS.  Operator stated that Victim was very intoxicated and went below deck to rest. 

About halfway to Blake Island, Victim came up from below deck and said it was too choppy to continue.  They decided to find a cove and anchor so they turned the boat around and began to look for a place to anchor.  At some point they stopped the boat to anchor and Operator thought they were somewhere around Shilshole but he was not sure where they were.  He could see lights but not on or near the water and he estimated they were about 200 yards from shore.  

Operator stated he was on the bow when Victim went to the stern to start the outboard engine.  Operator saw Victim fall in the water.  Operator went to the stern but could not see any sign of Victim.  He went below and retrieved a flashlight used it to search for Victim.  He searched for about 20 minutes and then he motored away.  

Operator did not call 911 immediately because he said his cell phone was not working.  When he got to Kingston Marina (east side of Puget Sound) he still did not call 911 because "I guess I was in shock, and didn't want to believe he might be dead."  When interviewer Sgt., Seattle PD Harbor Patrol Unit, Squad C asked if he thought there was any chance Victim might have swam to shore, he stated "No after he fell in I never saw him surface."

Victim's body was later found on the east side of Puget Sound at Picnic Point in unincorporated Edmonds, Snohomish County, north of Seattle.
