Coroner releases name of man found in back of pickup truck in Chehalis

Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod has released the identity of a deceased man who was found Jan. 7 in back of a pickup truck on Interstate Avenue in Chehalis.

He was identified as Rickie J. Hornbeck, 64, of Vader. An autopsy performed on Jan. 9 determined that there were no suspicious findings in Hornbeck’s death, but his identity was withheld until his next of kin was located and notified, McLeod said.

“The cause and the manner of death are pending toxicology results, which take 90 days to come back from the lab,” McLeod wrote in a news release.

Lewis County Sheriff’s deputies believe Hornbeck was likely living in his pickup and that carbon monoxide from a propane heater could have been a contributing factor in his death, according to The Chronicle.

Lisa Pemberton

This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 12:31 PM with the headline "Coroner releases name of man found in back of pickup truck in Chehalis."