Deputies investigate Coulee City homicide

Man's death ruled suspicious

COULEE CITY - The death of a Coulee City man is being investigated as a homicide.

Jeff Smith, 49, was found dead in his bed at his West Locust Street residence in Coulee City, Oct. 12, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said.

Deputies were contacted the night of Oct. 10 concerning a reported assault Smith and at least four other people were involved in, he said. The reporting party advised Smith was allegedly assaulted in and around his home.

The reporting party who contacted law enforcement then advised the fight was over and Smith was home safe, sleeping on his couch. Law enforcement did not make contact at the residence.

The reporting party is not a suspect in the assault, Turley said.

On Oct. 11, the day after the assault, a friend went to Smith's residence to check on him. There was no answer.

On Oct. 12, a friend reportedly attempted to make contact with Smith but again, there was no answer, Turley said. The friend forcefully entered the home and found Smith dead in his bed.

The Grant County Coroner's Office responded to the incident and contacted the Grant County Sheriff's Office because the death appeared suspicious, he said. A detective attended the autopsy and advised the death should be investigated as homicide.

Coroner Jerry Jasman said it appears Smith died from a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Jasman is working to determine Smith's time of death. So far it appears he was alive during the early evening hours of Oct. 11.

Details about what happened between the time Smith went to sleep on his couch and was discovered in his bed are unknown, Turley said. Smith lived alone. There was no sign of struggle in the home and it did not appear to be burglarized.

The sheriff's office is conducting interviews and collecting evidence.