The recent death of a 25-year-old Lopez Island man being held at Island County jail may have been caused by dehydration, according to Island County Coroner Robert Bishop.

Corrections deputies found Keaton Farris, 25, deceased in his jail cell on April 8, shortly after midnight. He was by himself in a jail “safety room” at the time of his death, according to Island County authorities.

Farris was being held on an identify theft charge out of San Juan County and had been incarcerated since March 26. He was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail and had been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine if he was competent to stand trial.

According to Bishop, initial laboratory tests indicate that Farris may have died of dehydration, but a final determination may take four to six weeks.

Following Farris’ death, two corrections deputies were placed on paid administrative pending an investigation into possible violations of department policy, according to Island County Sheriff Mark Brown.

Arrested in Snohomish County in connection with the identity theft case, Farris was then escorted to Coupeville by local officers, San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs said.

— Scott Rasmussen