Charleston Fisherman Dies at Sea, Sept. 2

Oregon State Police (OSP) and the Lincoln County Medical Examiner are continuing the investigation to confirm the cause of death of a 70-year old Charleston man Sunday while he was on a fishing trip in the Pacific Ocean. Initial investigation indicates he may have died from natural causes. On August 31, 2014 at 7:47 a.m., two OSP troopers were dispatched to the Yaquina Bay Coast Guard (USCG) Station in Newport to meet USCG personnel while a boat was returning from the Pacific Ocean with a deceased adult male. At approximately 12:31 p.m., the fishing vessel “Carolyn Ruth” arrived at the station. Initial investigation indicates the boat’s captain and EUGENE ELMER COMPTON, age 70, from Charleston, left port on August 30 at approximately 3:00 p.m. to go fishing about 25 miles off shore. Later that evening, COMPTON indicated he wasn’t feeling well and went to bed. According to the boat’s captain, COMPTON reportedly got up during the middle of the night and was found deceased later that morning after the captain awoke.