Staff Reports
Columbus Police Department detectives and investigators do not suspect foul play in the death of a 53-year-old Columbus man last week outside Columbus Regional Hospital.
Robert E. Smith, 53, was found in a vehicle by police and pronounced dead at 8:19 p.m. Oct. 18 by deputy coroner Charlie Deweese near the hospital’s emergency department entrance at 2400 17th St., according to the coroner’s office.
Smith’s vehicle was parked in a hospital lot, said Jay Frederick, another Bartholomew County deputy coroner.
The investigation by Columbus police is continuing, said Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the department.
The cause and manner of Smith’s death will be released after toxicology test results come back in about a week, Frederick said.
According to Smith’s obituary, published in Wednesday’s Republic, he was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had worked in maintenance for the State of Indiana.
Smith is survived by four children from the Columbus area and other relatives.
