Pamplin Media Group – Public asked to help confirm identity of deceased Vancouver man

James Zephyrus Smith is believed to have lived in the Hillsboro area for a time but changed his name.

Police are asking for the public’s help confirming the identity of a Vancouver, Washington, man who they believe once lived in Hillsboro.

According to a press release from the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office, a 68-year-old man was found dead in his Vancouver home on Aug. 6. He is believed to be James Zephyrus Smith, but the office “needs help locating his dentist and biological relatives in order to confirm his identity.”

The medical examiner believes the deceased was born in New Jersey and was named Joseph Gene Quagliani, but that he changed his name in 2001 to James Zephyrus Smith.

Authorities believe he resided in the Pacific Northwest since the early 1990s, residing in King County and Clark County, Washington, as well as in the Hillsboro area. He was known to frequent local dog parks with his two greyhounds and volunteer with the Humane Society of Southwest Washington.

The medical examiner has not yet released opinions on the cause of death.

Anyone with information about Smith is asked to send it to operations manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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