Man Found Dead Inside Of Cooler At Local Restaurant; Awaiting Au - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

FIRST ON KHQ.COM: Man Found Dead Inside Local Taco Bell Cooler; Awaiting Autopsy Results

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by Kenneth McGrath, KHQ Producer - email

SPD NEWS RELEASE: On January 3, 2011, just after 8pm, Spokane Police officers responded to a welfare check at the Taco Bell at Monroe and Boone. Employees had called about a man who walked into the restaurant and locked himself inside a large walk in cooler.

Officers were able to dismantle the cooler and open the heavy door. Once inside, they found 42-year-old Richard Thomas dead inside.

The cause of death is pending autopsy results but there is no sign of violence and it does not appear that he died as a result of exposure in the cooler.