Missing South Kitsap man discovered dead

A 49-year-old South Kitsap man was found dead Friday after apparently committing suicide, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

Spokesman Deputy Scott Wilson said that Jason Lee Patterson, missing for more than 24 hours, was found around 1:40 p.m. on Friday afternoon in a dense wooded area near his home.

Wilson said Patterson had last been seen early Thursday morning when he left his residence near Long lake around 7:45 a.m. to walk his two Boxer dogs, Bailey and Toby.

His family, including his wife, became concerned about Patterson when one of the dogs returned to the house shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, alone and off his leash.

After searching for Patterson for three hours with no luck, his family reported him missing at noon.

Wilson said more than 60 volunteers then searched for Patterson, including members from the Kitsap County Explorer Search and Rescue, along with teams from Pierce, King and Thurston Counties.

Eventually, Patterson’s body was discovered in what Wilson described as “a dense brush-and-tree area approximately 100 yards north of SE Sleepy Hollow Court, about one-half mile north of his residence.”

Found with Patterson was his other dog, whom Wilson said was standing guard over his owner.

On Saturday, an autopsy was performed on Patterson by the Kitsap County Coroner’s Office, which determined that he died from self-inflicted cut wounds. His death was officially ruled a suicide.

The county’s forensic pathologist is also awaiting results of blood toxicology tests from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab in Olympia.

Patterson was a 30-year Navy veteran. He enlisted at age 18 and retired as an officer commander.

He was last employed as a civilian at Subase Kitsap, Bangor.

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