The man is presumed to be 68-year-old James Zephyrus Smith, but the medical examiner needs help locating the man’s dentist and biological relatives in order to confirm his identity

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office is seeking the public’s help to confirm the identity of a man whose body was found in his home on August 6, 2022. 

The man is presumed to be 68-year-old James Zephyrus Smith of Vancouver. But the Medical Examiner’s Office needs help locating the man’s dentist and biological relatives in order to confirm his identity.

The Medical Examiner’s Office believes the man was born in New Jersey and named Joseph Gene Quagliani. He is believed to have been known as Joseph Gene Quagliani until 2001, when his name was changed to James Zephyrus Smith.

He is believed to have lived in the Pacific Northwest since the early 1990s, residing in King County and Clark County, and the Hillsboro, Oregon area.

At the time of his death, he lived in Vancouver and frequented local dog parks with his two greyhounds. He was also a volunteer for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

Medical Examiner opinions as to the cause and manner of death are pending. 

The Medical Examiner’s Office asks anyone with information about James Z. Smith to please send it to nikki.costa@clark.wa.gov.

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.