Leonardtown, MD – A spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) of Maryland has confirmed that alcohol consumption played a role in the death of a St. Mary’s County man earlier this month. James Francis Morgan, 43 of Clements, was reported to be critically missing Aug. 1. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office had reported that day that Morgan was last seen in the area of Port of Leonardtown Winery on Newtowne Neck Road in Leonardtown. The winery is located near McIntosh Run, a creek that is frequently used by kayakers. The next afternoon, following an extensive search of the creek in which authorities used divers and drones to locate the missing man, Morgan’s body was located in the water. There were no signs of foul play and the body was transported to Baltimore for an autopsy.
On Aug. 16, OCME spokesman Bruce Goldfarb told TheBayNet.com that the cause of Morgan’s death was “drowning, complicating alcohol intoxication and the manner was undetermined.” Morgan reportedly had been discharged from a local hospital prior to disappearing in the water.
The police investigation of Morgan’s death remains open and anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Detective James Bare at 301-475-4200, ext. 8118 or by email at james.bare@stmarysmd.com
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com