deadliest catch star found dead

deadliest catch star found dead

"Deadliest Catch" fisherman Justin Tennison was found dead Tuesday of unknown causes.

Tennison, a member of the Time Bandit fishing crew, was discovered in a motel room in Alaska.

Beer, hard liquor and a small amount of marijuana were found in the room, Homer police Lt. Randy Rosencrans said. Police believe a party was held in the room on Monday night - two rooms were registered under Tennison's name and nearby guests complained about the noise.

Foul play isn't suspected, Rosencrans said. An autopsy by the state medical examiner's office was scheduled to take place later Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Tennison is set to make a posthumous debut in the Discovery Channel series' seventh season, which is scheduled to begin in April, Discovery spokesman Josh Weinberg said.

Weinberg also released a statement, saying Discovery was saddened by the news.

"We send our sympathies to his entire family and fellow crew members during this most difficult time," the statement said.

The crew of the Time Bandit released their own statement, as well, noting that Tennison "died peacefully in his sleep the night of February 21, 2011."

Tennison, who lived in Alaska for 28 years, worked "alongside his second cousin, Eddie Uwekoolani, Jr., serving as Engineer during the tendering seasons, and joined the Time Bandit crew as a deckhand fishing the Red King 2010 and Opilio 2011 seasons."

The statement described Tennison as "tough as a bull and... an all-around good hand."

He is surivived by his daughter, son, father, sister and grandparents.

The death comes a little more than a year after Capt. Phil Harris of the "Deadliest Catch" fishing vessel Cornelia Marie died following a massive stroke at age 53.