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Deputies identify suicide victim By JILL BRISKEY After months of searching, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department has finally learned the identity of a local man who committed suicide inside Medford's old Starlite Drive-in theater. According to Detective Eric Fox, investigators positively identified John David Carlson, 46, of Medford, Wednesday by comparing fingerprints from the Oregon State Police Crime Lab to public records in Naperville, Ill. Fox said last week that two of Carlson's former co-workers recognized a composite sketch that had been published in the Mail Tribune. The information they provided eventually led investigators to Carlson's parents, who live in Illinois. Carlson's body was discovered by a transient Feb. 23 inside the old theater on South Pacific Highway. The Starlite Drive-in is a popular place for homeless residents to gather and drink, police said. Last week, Sgt. Rich Fogarty said that Carlson hanged himself. Investigators believe Carlson died only a few hours before he was discovered. Sheriff's deputies did not find Carlson's wallet and were unable to identify him. A local fingerprint check did not result in a match. Fox said Carlson did not have a criminal record. He lived in Texas and Washington before settling in the Rogue Valley about eight years ago. In 1995, Carlson began working for Commercial Printing Company in Medford. Fox said Carlson quit his job in October 2000. Carlson lived in a motel on South Pacific Highway for some time, and left the establishment shortly before he killed himself, Fox said. Fox said investigators do not believe foul play was involved. "His parents said he was depressed for years and years," Fox said. "The only thing we don't know, which is odd, is what happened to his wallet." Funeral arrangements are being handled by Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.