Homer man found dead near Slough
• Police rule out foul play, say exposure ‘likely cause of death’
By Sean Pearson
Homer Tribune
A 49-year-old Homer man was found dead some 15 feet from his tent near Beluga Slough last Friday, apparently a victim of exposure to the elements.
Raegin Romero had reportedly been living in the woods off the Sterling Highway, and had been missing since last Monday. He lived in an area across the street from Safeway that is known by local police as a “camping area” for those who are homeless.
Photo provided - Raegin Romero, shown here in his 1979 senior picture at Homer High School, was found dead some 15 feet from his tent off a Beluga Slough campground.
According to Kuhns, a friend of Romero’s went to Romero’s campsite a few days before Thanksgiving to check on his welfare.
“He couldn’t find him in his tent, and couldn’t really see around the campsite because it was getting dark,” Kuhns explained. “He went back on Friday and found Romero’s body about 15 feet from his tent.”
There were no signs of physical trauma or assault, and police do not expect foul play. Kuhns said it looked like Romero had left the tent to use the bathroom. He was dressed only in light clothing.
“More than likely, this was an issue of exposure,” Kuhns said. “But there were an awful lot of bottles around the camp, so we can’t rule alcohol out yet. I’m pretty sure it played a significant part in his death, though.”
Kuhns said it appeared Romero had died several days before being found.
Romero grew up in Homer and graduated from Homer High School in 1979. He is pictured in the Homer High Yearbook.
Romero’s body was sent to the Alaska Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy. His next of kin were notified.
The homelessness problem is one that continues to raise eyebrows around the Homer community. And while the issue hasn’t gone unnoticed, it appears rarely addressed; something Kuhns finds frustrating.
“There is definitely a homelessness issue here,” Kuhns said. “It’s one that I hope people in the community can recognize and come together to help, instead of relying on the government to step in and intervene.”
Kuhns said alcoholism plays a major role in the homelessness issue, and that police are often called out to help by placing someone who is too intoxicated to care for themselves into protective custody.
“Most of the time, when we have contact with people who are homeless, it’s in a bad way because it usually involves alcohol and we’re there as law enforcement,” Kuhns said. “But still, you talk to folks, you get to know them and you find out who there really are. Then, they stop being just ‘the homeless,’ and become actual people to you. After a while, you can’t help but care what happens to them.”
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Posted by Newsroom on Dec 2nd, 2009 and filed under Headline News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Posted by Newsroom on Dec 2nd, 2009 and filed under Headline News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
9 Responses for “Homer man found dead near Slough”
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We had problems with homeless dying so the police did a daily check on known areas. Oh, I know, many people will be upset about it but they are human, drunk, sober or high. I lost an uncle to booze and freezing weather but he was in his 80′s and had been dug out of snow banks for many years. However, he died right in town a few feet from his brothers trailer. So sad but loved him to death. I am sure with money shortages for towns they would prefer their police to do other work but a daily check on these homeless guys could save lives. Our cops got to know each and every one of them by name (Seattle) and looked out for them. Of course now, we have new kids as cops and a bigger crime spree going on, so many more homeless, don’t know how it is right now. In our little town, our cops get to know the homeless and where they hang out and check on them. We haven’t lost one in the 21 years I have lived in this little town (31,000 people). I’ll pray for these poor souls.
I went to school with Raegin and graduated with him in 1979. I am so shocked to find out that he was homeless and suffering in that way. I am deeply saddened to read this news.
We need low income housing in Homer. No one should be living outside in the winter. How can we let this happen in a community with so much wealth, with so many houses and cabins sitting empty all winter…there must be something we can do.
Homeless people should not be forced to make the choice between a warm shelter and drinking. What percentage of Homer citizens are drinking in their homes? If you don’t have a home you are not allowed to drink? Let’s throw away the judgement and take care of people no matter their habits. We will be judged by how we treat the least of us.
that was nicely said stina
stina: Great idea! How about you build some low income housing in Homer? Sound good? Let us know how to get into touch with you, I’m interested.
Why shouldn’t people have to choose between drinking and housing? I choose between getting plastic surgery and housing.
Can I live with you for free so I can afford to get my boob job? Please?
Mona- I’m really truly glad that you don’t know the hell that is addiction, I mean that. That being said — we ARE our brother’s keeper. All the sarcasm in the world does not change that. When I was in Homer High School I spent part of a spring living in the woods behind the old HHS. I was just a kid paying for the sins of the adults around me, I had done nothing wrong to deserve this. There were adults who must have known that something “wasn’t right” in my world but none of them reached out in any way. A place to get out of the cold would have been welcome to a 16 yr old girl who had nobody. Don’t be so quick to judge others.
Cissy: I choose not to drink. I choose not to do drugs. I try hard to make the right decisions, but when I make the wrong ones, I pay the price and try hard to learn from it.
You should have been removed from your parents’ custody and placed in the home of a relative/friend or in foster care. When you were 16 and living in the woods did you ask for help? I would have gladly helped you. I also would have reported your situation to the proper authorities.
I hope you have learned from your parents’ mistakes and I hope you do your part to help children that may be in the same situation you were in.
Mona- That same year I had a friend in foster care, in Homer, who was severely abused by her foster family. I watched as nothing happened in her case – nothing. The “proper authorities” let her down greatly. That fate seemed worse than what she had already been through. Although there were adults who had to know I was in deep trouble, including my own extended family, nobody reached out. When you are 16 and alone you don’t reach out because you are so ASHAMED. Looking back, I felt responsible for my situation — thats what children do. And yes, after a couple of decades trying to kill myself slowly, I found my purpose. I spend my days in family court advocating for abused and neglected children. If I can go through all that and not cast judgement on others, it should be really easy for someone who never walked that path. It was kind of you to say you would have taken me in, I wish I had known you in 84. Wishing you blessings.
My heart is saddened by hearing of the news of Raegin’s death. We were friends and classmates; I’d last seen him when I I was living back in Homer in 1992, when my son was but a few months old. He was still the same sweet, wonderful man he’d always been, and I was hoping to see him next year when we had (hopefully) had our reunion. I had no idea that his life had become so hard, and it breaks my heart to think that his life ended with him lying alone, in the cold and dark, freezing to death. No one should live, or die, that way. Everyone deserves better than that. God Bless you Raegin. May you rest in peace.