95-year-old man found dead in Tacoma home during eviction Thursday morning
Authorities found a man dead inside a home in the Fern Hill area of Tacoma Thursday morning while attempting to serve an eviction notice. The man’s remains were discovered in the 800 block of South 80th Street, according to law enforcement agencies that responded to the scene.
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies came to the home at around 10 a.m. and met a woman who appeared to be experiencing significant mental health needs, according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Carly Cappetto. Deputies were going to take the woman to the hospital when she informed them that she was living with another adult. That prompted them to go inside the home where they found the man dead, Cappetto said.
The sheriff’s office turned the death investigation over to Tacoma Police because the body was located in the Tacoma’s jurisdiction. The sheriff’s office mental health specialist came to the scene with the deputies, and the woman was transported to a local hospital where she met with social workers and mental health specialists. It also appeared that people were hoarding items in the house.
Deputies are authorized to take people to the hospital without giving them a choice when they meet one of four criteria: inability to care for self, danger to self, danger to others or danger to property. In this case, the woman wasn’t given a choice, Cappetto said.
Tacoma police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd confirmed Thursday that the woman was detained for a mental health evaluation and is not under arrest.
“At this point we don’t suspect foul play,” but police are looking into this, she said.
The man was 95 years old and his female roommate was 72, Boyd said.
“At this time, the investigation is in its early stages and no arrests have been made,” she added.
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM.
