Report: No criminal activity suspected in Portales man's death

PORTALES — A Portales man found dead six days after he was first reported missing last November died from “acute and chronic ethanol toxicity with hypothermia and blunt force injury of the head as significant contributing conditions.”

Reports from the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Medical Investigator — acquired by The News through a public records request — identified no criminal activity or suspects in the death of Jay Cole, 32, of Portales.

Justin Cole, Jay’s brother, told The News the family was “saddened by the loss” but had no comment on the reports.

Dozens of area residents joined family members in searching throughout the community for the missing man.

According to the reports:

• On Nov. 15, the sheriff’s office was dispatched to the 100 block of NM 267 for a report of a male found unresponsive and not breathing. The reporting deputy noted the individual matched the description of Cole, first reported missing Nov. 9 after he walked away from Roosevelt General Hospital.

• The property owners told the deputy they called 911 after their dog discovered the body.

• Weather reports between Cole first going missing and being found show temperatures as low as 26 degrees.

The report stated injuries could have been the result of a fall, though no fall was witnessed.

• Cole’s wallet, keys and cell phone were not located. Family said there was no evidence any of his credit cards had been used.