James Myers death deemed suicide

SUPERIOR - The death of James Myers has been ruled a suicide.

According to a press release received from the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, February 6, the Office of the Mineral County Sheriff-Coroner received the medical examiner’s report from the State Forensic Science Division Office of the Department of Justice in the case of James Meyers.

The preliminary toxicology results, in conjunction with the autopsy, indicate the cause of death for Myers is “mixed drug toxicity” and that the manner of death would be classified as suicide.

According to Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas, the exact drugs found by the medical examiner have not been released. It is also unknown whether there was a lethal amount of any one drug or if a combination of drugs was the cause of death.

“In a mixed drug toxicity, it could have the possibility of two different drugs, which by themselves would not be lethal or cause a problem, but when mixed together cause an issue,” said Ornelas.

The death was declared a suicide based on the information available to the medical examiner. The examiner had access to the reports from investigating deputies, statements among other information while conducting the autopsy and made the decision based on all the information he had available.

This largely closes the investigation of the case. However, if the final toxicology report has new or different information the case may be reopened.

“The preliminary toxicology report was enough for the medical examiner to feel we had enough to show the cause of death,” said Ornelas. “The final toxicology report may show something different, but it’s unlikely.”

Myers was allegedly involved in a child sex abuse sting in Missoula. He was one of seven people arrested as part of an operation by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce.

Myers responded to an online ad posted by the taskforce prostituting a young minor.

His arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, January 21 in Missoula County District Court.

Myers was found dead in his Mineral County home in mid January.