Body found near Asheville High School ID’d as school janitor; cause of death still pending

ASHEVILLE –

A man who was found dead the morning of May 9 near Asheville High School has been identified as a janitor for the school, but police still await a cause of death to be determined. While near a business at the 200 block of McDowell Street, an adult and their child spotted a man lying face down and called 911 around 8 a.m. May 9, according to police spokesperson Rick Rice.

After Asheville Police Department and Asheville Fire Department responded, the fire department confirmed he was dead, Rice previously said. A newly released police incident report identified the man as Justin Marshall Pangle, 41, of Leicester. His death certificate reveals Pangle worked with the school system, and according to his online obituary, he worked at Asheville High School.

“The death was initially considered to be medical in nature and foul play was not suspected,” Rice told the Citizen Times.

Awaiting autopsy results

However, APD’s case remains open while awaiting results of an autopsy from the medical examiner’s office, according to Rice. Pangle’s stepfather, Chris Creel, said Pangle suffered from a medical condition, but the family doesn’t know yet if that contributed to what happened May 9.

“That sounds like a big drawback, but day-to-day, he was a great family member, and he did love the community,” Creel told the Citizen Times.

Service to the school system

Kimberly Dechant, spokesperson for Asheville City Schools, confirmed that Pangle “worked with a contract group that provided services” to the school system. Pangle was a janitor at Asheville High School for about a year before his death, Creel said. But before then, he was a long-time cook, working at Oakley Elementary and Brooks Howell Home in Asheville over the past few years.

Pangle loved working with the students at both the elementary and high school and “he’d tell me stories every day about those kids,” Creel said. “He always cooked for us at home,” Creel said, adding that his favorite dish to make was New Orleans-style jambalaya and his favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. “He always told me that he really loved cooking but was conflicted about going back into it. He’d get so invested in the environment in the kitchen that he’d bring it all home with him.”

A passion for movies

Pangle loved watching movies, which was “his escape,” Creel said. He had a special passion for ’80s action movies, especially “Die Hard,” since it’s what he grew up watching. A “beloved son, brother and uncle,” Pangle had a twin brother, two nieces and a “special friend, Jamie,” his online obituary said.

Originally born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Pangle lived much of his life in Knoxville before moving to the Asheville area. “Justin was a great guy, very giving, and he never met a stranger,” Creel said.

Remembering Justin Marshall Pangle

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Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

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