Man who killed girlfriend on Pierce County island died from drowning, ME says
A Tacoma man who fatally stabbed his girlfriend on Ketron Island in June died from drowning, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.
James Jordan, 30, died June 22 near the 10300 block of Morris Boulevard after deputies say he stabbed and killed 26-year-old Ruby Hamrick the same day. She died from multiple sharp-force injuries, and her manner of death was ruled a homicide, the office said in a news release at the time.
After Jordan fatally stabbed Hamrick, witnesses said he drove his vehicle off a ferry dock and into the Puget Sound. Pierce County Dive and Marine Services Unit used a Remote Operated Vessel to find the vehicle with Jordan dead inside the next day, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Jordan’s cause and manner of death initially was listed as “pending.” The Medical Examiner’s Office wrote in an update Thursday that he died from drowning, and his manner of death was listed as suicide.
The News Tribune reported that it appeared there was unreported domestic violence in the home where Hamrick was the victim.
