Thurston Co. coroner releases cause of death of man killed near Olympia July 3
The Thurston County coroner has released the cause of death for a man who was killed at his home near Olympia on July 3.
David Poplack, 49, died due to multiple sharp injuries to the head and neck, Coroner Gary Warnock told The Olympian Thursday. He ruled his death a homicide.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies found Poplack in the 3700 block of Wesley Loop Northwest at around 9 p.m. July 3, The Olympian previously reported. Evidence at the scene indicated the 49-year-old Thurston County man died due to homicidal violence, according to a July 4 Sheriff’s Office news release. TCSO identified the suspect as a 26-year-old man who was a relative of the victim and a cohabitant.
The Longview Police Department later located the 26-year-old at a residence in northwest Longview and took him into custody, per the release. The 26-year-old reportedly “suffered a medical emergency” and died while in custody.
“TCSO detectives subsequently served a search warrant at the Longview residence, where they located evidence linking the suspect to the homicide, as well as items that may have contributed to his medical emergency,” the TCSO release stated.
Poplack’s family later shared the following statement with The Olympian.
“Our family is grieving an unimaginable tragedy. On the evening of July 3rd, David Poplack lost his life during a severe and acute mental health crisis involving his son, Forest,” the statement said. “Forest passed away the following day due to a medical emergency while in police custody.”
The statement went on to say: “This was a catastrophic mental health event. Forest was experiencing a profound psychiatric crisis, and the tragic outcome reflects the severity of that moment — not the nature of their relationship or the love within our family. David and Forest are survived by David’s parents, and by Forest’s sister and mother. The entire family is devastated by the loss of both a son and grandson, and a father and brother, within such a short time. We ask for compassion, respect, and privacy as we navigate this deeply painful time.”
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suspect’s death but has not returned calls for more information.
The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office has so far declined to officially identify the person who died in custody or release other information.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office previously indicated they are still investigating David Poplack’s death. The local agency has not responded to requests for more information.
