Medical examiner revises cause of missing man’s death

In an amended autopsy report, the county medical examiner has determined that Carl Salayer, the 67-year-old Ramona man whose body was found off Chablis Road in June, most likely died from environmental exposure with Parkinson’s disease and Brugada syndrome as contributing factors.

The original report attributed methamphetamine intoxication as the main cause of death. However, in a follow-up investigation the medical examiner’s office said it learned that Salayer was prescribed selegiline, a medication used to treat Parkinson’s.

“Selegiline is known to metabolize into methamphetamine and it is felt that the methamphetamine detected in the decedent’s liver arose from the selegiline he was prescribed,” said the medical examiner.

The small amount of methamphetamine detected in the liver “is not felt to have contributed in a significant way to death,” stated the amended report.

Salayer went missing from his home in the 17000 block of Handlebar Road on June 17. The sheriff’s department conducted search and rescue efforts until June 21, but could not locate him. His body was found in a heavily vegetated field on June 25 after a couple living on Chablis Road reported a foul odor, according to authorities.

The medical examiner has classified Salayer’s death as an accident. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, Salayer had dementia-type symptoms, Brugada syndrome for which he had an implanted defibrillator, a gastric feeding tube and thyroid deficiencies, said the report.