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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW (No heading) ... Our View: Medford Center owners invest in city's future ... Jackson County groups hope to establish a homeless campsite ... (No heading) ... Our View: Medford Center owners invest in city's future ... Jackson County groups hope to establish a homeless campsite ... THE DALLES The Dalles Standoff: Suicide by smoke inhalation Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 4:30 PM By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 4:30 PM » Social News THE DALLES — Before 59-year-old William J. Rengigas died in the fire that destroyed his foreclosed home, acquaintances say, he was going downhill and letting things go. His white beard, once neatly trimmed, grew to the middle of his chest. His yard was overgrown. Three years ago, he worried about losing his home to foreclosure and fretted about what would become of his dogs. On Monday, as a sheriff's deputy prepared to serve an eviction notice and gave him 15 minutes to leave, he began firing. The deputy retreated, and soon smoke was coming from the eaves of the house. A few hours later, after the house had gone up in flames, officers went inside to find the body of Rengigas, along with those of his two dogs. The medical examiner ruled it a suicide, saying he had set the fire and stayed inside to die of smoke inhalation. One of the dogs had been shot. It appeared the gun jammed before he could shoot the second, authorities told The Dalles Chronicle. "All he cared about was what was going to happen to his dogs," said Janna Hage, once director of the animal shelter where he had bought two dogs a decade ago. "I knew that that was really weighing on him." He regularly donated supplies to the shelter, Home At Last, and sometimes walked dogs there. Real estate agent Dee Ashley accompanied the deputy to the house. She had sold it to him when he moved in from California in 2006. "I just want people to know he wasn't a mean, violent man," Ashley said. "He didn't kill the dogs out of violence and hate. He took them with him." She added, "He had nowhere to go, no hope. He wasn't crazy." Neighbor Patti Smith said he was a tall, slender man with a glass eye, He told her he'd lost it in military combat. Rengigas had a job at a plant that makes door and window glass, Ashley said, as well as a medical marijuana card and strong views about defending Second Amendment rights. Police said they couldn't find relatives to notify and are asking for help from the public to find family members. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 4:30 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501