Authorities are investigating the “unattended death” of a 60-year-old man who was found deceased on his live-aboard sailboat at the Deltaville Yachting Center in Deltaville on Monday, reported Maj. M.E. Sampson of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Maj. Sampson, Robert Scott Smith from West Point had not been heard from since Saturday. He was discovered by a person scheduled to work on his boat about 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13.
At this time there appears to be no evidence of foul play, said Maj. Sampson, adding that an autopsy will be performed by a state medical examiner, which is reportedly standard procedure for a death where no one else was present. The deceased man was transported to the medical examiner’s office in Richmond by Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home on Monday.
Open hatch
A person who has a boat at the marina said he noticed the boat’s hatch on Smith’s boat was left open on Sunday night when rain threatened. On Monday morning the hatch was still open and a large dog was alone on the deck of the sailboat estimated to be 28-feet long.
Authorities transported the dog to the Middlesex County Animal Shelter.
Smith’s daughter was notified on Monday and planned to drive from North Carolina to pick up the dog and attend to matters, said Maj. Sampson.
The investigation is ongoing, said Sampson, who added that anyone with information should call the sheriff’s office non-emergency number at 804-758-2779.
