The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

UPDATE -

The name of the 34 year old man from Kirbyville who died is Jason Murray Smith. The autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3. It remains unknown what caused Smith’s death and no charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing and more information may be released as it becomes available.

PREVIOUS REPORT -

Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7:45 p.m., the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Baptist Hospital in Orange, in reference to a death investigation.

The preliminary investigation into the death revealed that a 34 year old white male from Kirbyville, and a 40 year old white male from Bridge City, were at a residence in the 3500 block of Beadle Road in Orangefield. It was reported that they were involved in a physical altercation with each other when the 34 year old man lost consciousness. The other man put him in his personal vehicle and drove him to the hospital in Orange where authorities were notified.

Investigators were on scene at the hospital and the residence to investigate the incident further and collect any evidence available. It is unknown at this time what actually caused the death of the man and an autopsy has been ordered by Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Judge Dunn.

The 40 year old man is cooperating with investigators and no arrest has been made at this time.

The name of the deceased man is being withheld until notification can be made with family members. More information may be released later as it becomes available.