Smith Rock death investigation completed

(Update: Authorities determine death was a suicide)

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies called to an apparently fatal fall at Smith Rock State Park on Thursday afternoon have conducted an investigation and determined the death to be a suicide, officials said.

Hikers at the popular climbing spot called 911 around 2:30 p.m. to report they found a man who apparently fell from a higher elevation, near the same slope as the Monkey Face feature, said sheriff’s Lt. Bryan Husband, the agency’s special services coordinator.

Two deputies, Redmond Fire & Rescue crews, state park personnel and DCSO Search and Rescue volunteers responded to the scene, Husband said. Also, a SAR volunteer who is a medical professional was hiking elsewhere in the park and was able to quickly respond and confirm the person had died.

Deputies on scene conducted an investigation and determined the incident was a suicide, with no one else involved. Husband said they are not disclosing the name of the 21-year-old man.