Deadliest Catch' deckhand Justin Tennison was was found dead in his Homer, Alaska, hotel room yesterday, TMZ reports.
According to the Facebook fan page of 'Deadliest Catch' star Captain Andy Hillstrand, the 34-year-old Tennison was an experienced fisherman who recently joined the crew of the Time Bandit as a deckhand for the Red King 2010 and Opilio 2011 seasons. He was the second cousin of Time Bandit crew member Eddie Uwekoolani, Jr., and served as engineer during the boat's off season.
"Justin was tough as a bull and was an all-around good hand," Hillstrand wrote on his Facebook page. "The Captains and Crew appreciated his hard work and many contributions this past year. We will miss him terribly and wish his family all the best during this most difficult time."
According to TMZ, police found a "small amount of marijuana as well as several bottles of alcohol in the refrigerator" of the hotel room, and believed a party took place there the night before they found Tennison's body.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death -- and whether drugs and alcohol were involved -- is scheduled for this afternoon.
This is the second death to rock the 'Deadliest Catch' crew in a year -- Captain Phil Harris died of a heart attack on Feb. 9, 2010. In September, Discovery sued Time Bandit captains Andy and Jonathan Hillstrand for not completing work on a proposed spinoff. The brothers and costar Sig Hansen quit the show in protest, but both sides resolved the conflict and went on to film a new season of 'Deadliest Catch.'
Source : http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/02/23/deadliest-catch-deckhand-justin-tennison-dead/
