UPDATE: Death investigation at Rotary Viewpoint Park (more information added Monday)

ORIGINAL SUNDAY REPORT: Several texters asked about an emergency response at Rotary Viewpoint Park (35th SW and SW Alaska) this morning. According to SFD and SPD radio recordings and logs, 911 got a call around 8:15 this morning about a person who had died in a tent. Upon arrival, responderd confirmed the death. That’s all we know so far; the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has removed the body, and we’re checking with police about the case.

MONDAY UPDATE: Police responded to our inquiry today. While we’re still awaiting information from the Medical Examiner – which could come as soon as today’s weekday update around 3 pm – the police report says the man who died was 37 years old; likely overdosed, based on drug paraphernalia around his body; and had probably been dead two or three days. Police added, “(Name redacted) does not appear to have any next of kin to notify of his passing.”

MONDAY UPDATE #2: He does not appear to be on today’s ME list.

TUESDAY UPDATE: Today’s ME list identifies him as 37-year-old Michael J. Rissler. Though the police report says the apparent cause of death was overdose, the ME report says formal determination of cause/manner of death is still pending.

Bradetta November 30, 2025 (11:56 am)

This is so sad. Thanks for letting us know.

Ron Thompson December 1, 2025 (9:51 pm)

Even Mumar Gaddafi Acknowledged Housing as a Human right. Libya had a deliberate policy that made homelessness illegal and provided housing to citizens, making it one of the only countries in the world where homelessness was effectively eradicated.The first Priority of any Government Should be the health of its people by spearheading any Drug activity and violence So many of these issues wouldn’t be without drugs on the streets aggressive addiction support, mental health care, structured job training and housing people heal when they’re not dodging rain or raids. I understand people have to want to help themselves and with many of them with no family or avenues of help , this is the result.

Lucy November 30, 2025 (12:12 pm)

That was someone’s son or daughter. Rest in Peace. I’m sorry you were allowed to live outside.

Ms. West Seattle November 30, 2025 (1:19 pm)

Does anyone know the name of the person who died?

WSB November 30, 2025 (1:33 pm)

That will be released by the Medical Examiner, no sooner than Monday afternoon.
Richard C December 1, 2025 (2:41 am)

His Name was Michael. My friend was the person to find him. He was a very good guy and im sad to see that he is gone. Nobody knows how he passed and how long he might of been there. Any info about that would be greatly appreciated. Im homeless and live in a tent myself. Its very cold and I now worry about myself as well as others.
- Todd December 1, 2025 (2:23 pm)
  
  A man named Michael – there is a nice man that lived in the Admiral/Junction area since the Pandemic, used to spend nights in the Admiral Theatre entrance. He’s very tidy and cleans up the area. I always try to spend a bit of time with him when our paths cross.Wonder if it’s the same Michael. RIP
  - Kadoo December 3, 2025 (4:53 pm)
    
    That’s a different Michael. He’s very kind and responsible. The Michael who died had a restraining order against him. Not not a particularly nice guy. But a sad story all the same.
    - Richard December 5, 2025 (1:03 am)
      
      How do you know that he had restraining order? He had a lot of mental health issues. As well as a daughter who will grow up without a father.
Richard C December 1, 2025 (2:58 am)

Sweeps don’t work especially when they sweep us and don’t offer us any sort of housing. They throw away the little bit of things we are able to have and possibly care about. And after your so called sweeps they go back to there lives and offer no sort of help for anyone such as tiny houses or shelter services. Its a joke and anyone who thinks sweeps would of prevented my friend dying this morning needs to step into my shoes for a day and see how people treat homeless people. All you yuppies can never handle one day in my shoes. Sad people in west Seattle who only care about lining there pockets and judging me because I live in a tent. Help us don’t judge us. Thank u people for caring about my friend and me and you don’t even know me. And shame on you judgmental, ignorant people.
- Lauren December 2, 2025 (9:16 pm)
  
  Richard, I’m so deeply sorry for your loss.

CaptainAdmiral November 30, 2025 (1:33 pm)

I will continue to question how our society (and city) can view it as humane to let people suffering from addiction and serious mental illness languish and die on the streets, when providing more assertive, even involuntary, treatment would be a far more compassionate and responsible approach.I know the answer is always money. But what is the cost to us all leaving it to the status quo?

G November 30, 2025 (3:44 pm)

Agree with this
Chris Hansen November 30, 2025 (3:48 pm)

I agree, we have vacant buildings all around, take a look at the bartell drugs and Walgreens that have been abandoned in White center, but yet so many people sleep outside in the cold around those buildings. Why not open it up and incentivize the owners to create semi-permanent safe spaces inside .
- Mr whatever November 30, 2025 (5:32 pm)
  
  Do you really think barely freezing temps are what killed this person?
  - Bro shut up November 30, 2025 (6:29 pm)
    
    Barely freezing? It’s freezing. I am cold even with a winter goose down and covered head to toe when I walk outside. These people are living there with a sheet of nylon to shield them from the cold if they’re lucky. You’re a disgusting human being to try to downgrade how bad it is living outside and assuming it could have been a substance issue. I would be so embarrassed if you were related to me with your trash mindset.
- Paul November 30, 2025 (6:27 pm)
  
  The unfortunate part about this is a liability issue. Who insures the building, who handles the liability for the building, who handles security, etc. I agree that empty buildings could be used but if something goes wrong then what happens. Look at the old Red Lion in Renton. All boarded up because of meth uses and now the building is toxic.
  - WiseWoman November 30, 2025 (7:32 pm)
    
    This is 100% exactly why. Landlords get tax writeoffs for empty buildings.it is sad but many people die on the streets of Seattle all year round. Bc sick cold freezing drugs health stress numerous reasons sadly. The woman in Black consistently stand in front of SMCourt to protest the deaths each year each month in our city. I assume this is still occurring after Covid. Businesses ne small business owners are one month away from being homeless or houseless bc of the crazy increased costs.
Lp November 30, 2025 (3:50 pm)

Do you remember in the 80s- early 90s, there were places for these ppl to go. I wish we could go back to that system.
- Scarlett November 30, 2025 (7:11 pm)
  
  I remember those days, too, when the financially strapped could usually find a place they could afford, even if was a hole-in-the-wall apt. Those days are gone.
Actualperson November 30, 2025 (4:25 pm)

The reality is that these people need to be committed. A mandatory detox/psychological rehab is the only fix. Problem is too many “well meaning” people think that’s inhumane but are blind to the reality that these people aren’t capable, or willing to self-report to treatment. Then there’s the problem of treatment facilities. People say we need them but if they try to put one in their neighborhood they freak out, saying “we need them, but not near me” Then there’s the issue of doctors and therapists to staff them. Doubt we have enough but sure don’t hear anyone saying they’ll change careers or have their kids chose that career because “someone else” can work there. End result: more of the same reports, more of the same “we gotta do something” hand wringing.
WS Res November 30, 2025 (5:26 pm)

1) Involuntary treatment doesn’t work. 2) Permanent supportive housing is cheaper in the long run than either jail or involuntary treatment. 3) Many people don’t want money going to PSH programs because they view it as insufficient punishment for having substance abuse and mental health problems. Result: the situation we have now.
- Delridge Engineer November 30, 2025 (6:01 pm)
  
  So do nothing. Cool. Thanks for the input.
- Frog November 30, 2025 (8:18 pm)
  
  Everyone is for permanent supportive housing. The only question is what type. Prison and mental institutions are forms of PSH. They are expensive, of course, and you assure us that some other form costs less. But I wonder if you have numbers on that, including the cost of construction and maintenance, the realistic lifespan of the facilities, and the cost of social benefits, support staff and voluntary treatment. People are skeptical not because they thirst for punishment, but because they doubt your plan is really cheaper, and furthermore, it still leaves the public exposed to a lot of crime and disorder, and NIMBY. But if you have reliable numbers, we would love to see them.
  - WS Res December 1, 2025 (10:11 am)
    
    PSH is more cost-effective: Stanford Health
    
    PSH reduces homelessness, improves health, and reduces service use more than treatment first: PubMed
    
    “Prison and mental institutions are forms of PSH” – Yes, and up is down, black is white, and my morning bacon is on the wing.
    - Frog December 1, 2025 (8:02 pm)
      
      Hey, wait … prison (or “drug farm”) is definitely housing, and while it’s not as permanent as it should be in some cases, you can’t be thrown out for bad behavior. It’s also supportive in the sense that clients get food, medical care, and lots of advice on how to spend their days. If the institution is run well, they also stop using drugs. As for your citations — the first one is just about a computer model that compares outcomes between housing first and treatment first approaches, using assumptions of unknown provenance. It asserts that lifetime costs for housing-first are $96,000 per client, which is fairy tale nonsense. King County couldn’t even build supportive housing for less than a half mil per unit, and then there’s repairs and maintenance (drug users are famously hard on their living quarters), questions about the realistic service life of such units, and costs for supportive services. The article has no realistic cost analysis. The other citation is a literature review comparing outcomes of housing-first and treatment-first approaches, with very little about costs.
Robert m November 30, 2025 (5:32 pm)

Fentanyl addicts need to be locked up. At least in prison they will lose access to drugs, have a place eat and sleep. They need tough love.
snowskier December 1, 2025 (11:07 am)

Totally agree. Need to sweep them up in to involuntary detox facilities to give time for detox to work and then see what’s left of the person to start a rebuild. They aren’t going to change without removing some options to make personal choices for a while.
98126res December 9, 2025 (7:18 pm)

Agree 100%. Use the billions of taxpayer dollars wasted without improving results, on drug and mental health counselors, treatment facilities away from metro areas, hire more police to stop the drug industry that ends the life of a young guy like this poor soul, a child of God. We need to do much better.
- k December 9, 2025 (8:30 pm)
  
  For some perspective on the “police will stop the drug industry” thing. The price of Fentanyl has dropped quite a bit in recent months because Border Patrol that were seizing it have been redirected to detention centers and now the stuff is just flooding across the border from Mexico. So adding police and detaining more people has lead to an increase in the supply of the drugs. That’s not to say police cause drug problems, but they’re not inherently a solution either. It’s more complicated than that. Right now the mayor has directed huge SPD resources at sweeping the homeless. Imagine if those same police were instead doing emphasis patrols in known areas for dealing.

Rhonda November 30, 2025 (1:52 pm)

This is tragic and could’ve been prevented. Sweeping encampments saves lives. Shame on our city officials for allowing this.

K November 30, 2025 (4:41 pm)

How would sweeping this guy’s tent from here to the greenbelt in Westcrest save his life? What a weird take.
- Rhonda November 30, 2025 (5:24 pm)
  
  If they aren’t allowed to illegally camp on public property they’ll be far more likely to accept a night at a safe shelter. What you’re advocating results in tragic deaths.
  - K November 30, 2025 (8:16 pm)
    
    There are 2500 shelter beds in Seattle, and 16,000-22,000 homeless people (depending on whose estimate you use). The “glamorous” life of living in a public space, in the rain and freezing temperatures with zero privacy to do anything, even just use the bathroom, is not why people are sleeping in tents and not in shelters. “They want to live that life” is a fantasy concocted to make you feel better about turning your back on your neighbors and nothing more.
  - Lauren December 1, 2025 (8:41 am)
    
    There’s an overnight shelter 20 feet away
    - Ruby December 1, 2025 (4:34 pm)
      
      That overnight shelter gets told to tone it down. They have 35 beds. And there’s easily about 60 people that live outside around here. You wanna sweep their only possessions and trash them, tell them to go to the shelter that you then complain about and campaign to shut down. But you don’t want them outside. So you sweep all their belongings. Including their id sometimes and then they can’t even get housing until they get the id replaced. But where to send the id? Rotary viewpoint park? My house? They don’t send other people’s ids to places they don’t live at. And yes all the stars people are voting in here are true. We exit people out the back door to make room in the shelters for those we sweep.
- StarbuckMoby November 30, 2025 (5:34 pm)
  
  Because they would have been offered connections to shelter and other services before sweeping, which (if actually offered – and I know this is an asterisk) they apparently refused. Accepting the help would have been a step in the right direction…but they took the step off the cliff. Very sad. May nothing like this kind of addiction ever afflict anyone we love!
  - Ruby December 1, 2025 (4:43 pm)
    
    No. People deny housing because they’ve been burned by the system. Shelters are not safe. People have neighbors around them they trust. Who would leave the neighborhood they built. Once you begin to start being in community with them, they 100% accept when they trust you. If we had trash pickup, we could provide services to them at the encampment, save a ton of money by just treating an encampment like a shelter. Like tent city 3 & 4. We need a church willing to do it so we can get people into housing PLEASE.
Jort November 30, 2025 (5:55 pm)

Rhonda, could you please produce evidence – of any kind, really – that proves that “sweeps” result in fewer deaths? I’m willing to wait quite a while for that evidence (since it doesn’t exist). Please note that “I don’t have to see as many homeless people downtown” is not evidence to support your claim.
- Actualperson November 30, 2025 (6:31 pm)
  
  Jort. Please provide your evidence that doing no sweeps results in fewer deaths.
  - WS Res November 30, 2025 (7:41 pm)
    
    Sweeps increase deaths. Journal of the American Medical Association.
    - Mike November 30, 2025 (9:01 pm)
      
      WS Res, that study is based on not allowing involuntary placement into treatment and shelter. What are pathetic take on reality. If you honestly believe telling people, “hey… I know you have no mental capacity to get yourself out of this situation, but just rot away in that makeshift camp you have there and keep on using meth and fentanyl, you’ll figure it out eventually.” Is better than involuntary placement into treatment and shelter, wow…
    - Jort December 1, 2025 (12:48 am)
      
      “Sweeps” aren’t involuntary placement into shelter. Sweeps means the people and their belongings are “swept” somewhere else. For example, people in downtown Seattle were “swept” from the street and likely now live in Rotary Viewpoint Park. “Sweeps” are superficial and make people who don’t like to look at homelessness feel good. They’re easy, low-hanging fruit for politicians who don’t want to do what it actually takes to address homelessness. “Sweep ‘em outta sight!” For us in West Seattle, that means into our greenbelts and public parks. WS Res didn’t post a study about involuntary treatment. They posted a study about sweeps because we’re talking about sweeps. Rhonda think sweeps saves lives. The AMA proves they don’t.

Rats November 30, 2025 (5:15 pm)

Second death there in the last half of this year. I have been filing Rotary Park encampment reports with FIFI ever since it came online. Also emailing the Unified Care Team several times this year about this location. They just keep saying they’re monitoring the camp. How many more have to die?

WSB November 30, 2025 (6:33 pm)

Actually this site supposedly was in queue for “resolution” per a thread on which somebody (I thought it was you) cc’d us. Just dug up the reply from three weeks ago (which has a number I will include in my inquiry tomorrow), replying to the pseudonymous person who made the inquiry:

We have reviewed and logged your service request at Rotary Park. This location has been inspected and has been elevated to be resolved soon, pending availability of the necessary shelter resources. Outreach providers will be engaging at this site to connect individuals to shelter and services. You will receive status updates as we work to further address this site.

We know that re-encampments can occur at a site. To report new or reemerging issues at this or other sites, please contact the City’s Customer Service Bureau using our Unauthorized Encampment Service Request Form.

Please note that changing conditions at this and other priority sites may impact our schedule. We appreciate your patience as we work to maintain Seattle’s public spaces, sidewalks, and streets open and accessible to all. For more information on the City’s ongoing efforts, please visit the One Seattle Homelessness Action Plan.

Public Safety Concerns
If you encounter an immediate public safety issue, please contact the Seattle Police Department:

Emergencies: Dial 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: (206) 625-5011
Report past crimes online: SPD Online Crime Reporting (not monitored in real time)
Sincerely,
Unified Care Team
City of Seattle

Please note that we have zero information so far on whether the person lived at the park or how they died. What I’ve included above, from the radio exchanges, comprise all the information I have – I’ve had an inquiry out to SPD all day seeking to confirm that it wasn’t a suspicious death (nothing indicates that it was, particularly the fact that the body was removed within just a couple hours; a homicide investigation would likely have taken all day), but haven’t heard back yet. -TR

aa November 30, 2025 (6:08 pm)

I’ve never heard anyone say they think this is humane.

Charles Burlingame November 30, 2025 (7:53 pm)

There are currently fewer shelter beds available in Seattle than on the day Bruce Harrell took office.

Advocacy December 1, 2025 (5:33 am)

How many posters here are willing to do the advocacy and activism to bring about change—and recruit family, friends, neighbors to join in those efforts. Hand wringing doesn’t bring about change. Lamenting the lack of shelters, treatment options, and permanent housing won’t get the job done. If we’re learning nothing else from what’s going on at the national level it’s that we cannot count on elected officials and their staff to solve pervasive problems. Are you willing to do some hard work? Attend city and county council meetings and speak up? Meet with legislators 1:1 from city to state? Serve on workgroups? Meet with NIMBY neighbors? Get guidance from successful tiny house communities? Find solutions to recruiting and staffing barriers? Work with rights advocates about changes to involuntary treatment laws? Write grant proposals? Government alone isnt going to solve this.

Housing First: A Human Right December 1, 2025 (11:53 am)

Agreed.

Gary Fassp December 1, 2025 (10:31 am)

A few years ago I tried to sell property that would have been great for emergency/transitional housing. Near Delridge, near services, police, transportation, etc. I pitched it to the appropriate agencies. Nobody was interested. It sold to a developer. There it sits, empty. Waiting lists for housing and treatment should be eliminated. Let’s see what the new administration does….

Housing First: A Human Right December 1, 2025 (11:52 am)

I’m glad we’re discussing how to solve homelessness. I believe that until “ We, The People” agree that housing IS a human right, there will not be significant progress. When a majority agree, then we can pass legislation like “Housing First” + expanded social services, access to health, education – Finland has decreased homelessness by 35% – yeah it’s not perfect – but it’s a start.A society SHOULD be judged on how they treat their neediest people: our old, our sick, our challenged, our addicted. Are we humane? We have a ways to go. People right here in WS are dying.

Thoughts? Bring it.
WS Cat

Ron Thompson December 1, 2025 (9:56 pm)

“Even Muammar Gaddafi understood that housing is a human right.Under his government, Libya made homelessness illegal and actually built homes for its citizens — one of the only countries on earth that effectively eradicated it.The first duty of any government is the health and safety of its people.That means getting drugs and violence off the streets, providing real healthcare, mental-health treatment, structured job training, and — most importantly — a roof over every head.A stable home has to come first. People heal when they’re not dodging rain, raids, or relapse. Aggressive addiction support and mental-health care work, but only when someone has a safe place to wake up sober.Yes, personal responsibility matters, and people have to want help.But when someone has burned every bridge, has no family, no safety net, and the streets are flooded with fentanyl, this is what happens: another body in a tent, another park that feels like a graveyard.We know how to fix this. Housing First programs cut chronic homelessness by 88 % everywhere they’re tried. We just lack the political will.Gaddafi — whatever else he was — proved a government can decide human dignity comes before everything else.Why can’t we?”
- Hope December 10, 2025 (6:20 am)
  
  Respectfully, housing isnt working.Build great mandatory drug and mental health treatment centers – filled with Hope and paths to restart lives – FAR AWAY from urban areas of WA. Rachel Savage who ran for city council has great ideas and experience in treatment that can work.
Ruby December 2, 2025 (4:07 am)

Notice what country isn’t on this list? Source material. Countries with housing as a constitutional or explicit legal right Armenia: Explicitly recognizes the right to housing in its constitution.Belgium: Constitutional right to housing.France: Has the Droit Au Logement Opposable (DALO) Law.Finland: Constitutional right to housing.Netherlands: Constitutional right to housing.Portugal: Constitutional right to housing.Scotland: Recognizes a right to housing through the Homelessness Act.South Africa: Explicitly recognizes the right to adequate housing in its constitution.Spain: Constitutional right to housing.Sweden: Constitutional right to housing. Countries that recognize housing as a non-justiciable right ArgentinaFinlandGreeceIndiaItalyNetherlandsSwitzerland

Neighbor December 2, 2025 (8:01 pm)

Michael Rissler was also known as the pirate. He is the person long known for threatening women, harassing, vandalizing and shoplifting from junction businesses until protection orders were put in place by a judge.

WSB December 2, 2025 (9:12 pm)

I haven’t looked up all the court documents yet but the jail register shows he spent three of the last seven months in jail for a variety of misdemeanor cases, most recently a few days in early October.
PirateVictim December 2, 2025 (9:48 pm)

I would never glorify the death of anyone, but I am glad that Michael will no longer be harming others in our community. People do not usually mess with me but I got randomly assaulted by him a couple years ago. I called the cops and they briefly detained him before letting him free, despite his violent tendencies being well known, since the jail was not taking in people for misdemeanors due to covid restrictions.
- Neighbor December 2, 2025 (11:30 pm)
  
  I’m sorry you were subjected to his violence. Sadly you are among many many people who were harmed or terrorized by him including myself. He mostly targeted women and elderly people. He’d punch people with no warning or reason as you described.
  - Lauren December 3, 2025 (7:51 am)
    
    Yep – Triangle resident and he has threatened to rape and kill me numerous times. Good riddance.

KA December 2, 2025 (8:32 pm)

My sympathies go out to this man’s loved ones. We lost a family member the same way, to mental illness and drugs on the streets. We worked for years to get this person the care and safety they needed, but no matter where we turned, no matter what we tried, there was no path forward. Rescuing someone whose mind can’t reason, whose dependencies and potential for harm are too strong, and whose country won’t provide is a near impossible endeavor filled with hopelessness, frustration and regret for everyone who loves them. Please vote to support solutions. Thank you for listening.

Emily December 3, 2025 (7:49 am)

Is this the same Michael John Rissler that threatened the employees at Vain salon?

Cherub of Justice December 3, 2025 (10:20 am)

Ahh dang. This is very sad news. I know he caused a lot of people distress but I wish he gave himself enough time to straighten up. Most of what he did I would assume was fueled by substance use and untreated mental health issues. Let’s stay away from the name calling Sending well wishes to his family

Sorry, comment time is over.