Dismissed juror found dead outside courthouse

An elderly man who reported for jury duty Monday afternoon was found dead Tuesday morning in front of the Spokane County Courthouse.

The 84-year-old man was dismissed from jury duty about noon Monday but continued to hang around the courthouse, said Spokane police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. When security officials asked later that afternoon if everything was all right, the man said he was waiting for a ride.

It turns out the man had his car with him, DeRuwe said.

The juror’s son reported him missing at 7 p.m. Monday, but the man wasn’t found until Tuesday morning. He was sitting on the ground, leaning against a garbage can in front of the courthouse and had apparently died of natural causes, DeRuwe said.