BY ALEX PIAZZA
apiazza@record-eagle.com
TRAVERSE CITY — Donald Eugene Claypool was known by office workers at his apartment complex as a longtime tenant who dropped off sweets to them during the holiday season.
Jeff Robinson often was a lucky recipient of holiday fudge, courtesy of Claypool.
"He stopped by the office all the time just to shoot the breeze," said Robinson, community manager at Boardman Lake Apartments. "He was an overwhelmingly well-liked person.
Robinson was shocked this week to hear Claypool died and is the focus of a Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department investigation.
"My jaw dropped this morning when I heard that," Robinson said. "We're kind of at a loss for words. I was kind of floored."
Claypool, 56, of Traverse City, died Monday at Munson Medical Center, and authorities continue to investigate how he died.
Deputies responded to an illegal entry and assault complaint Saturday at the Garfield Township apartment complex. A tenant, 53, told deputies that Claypool tried to enter his apartment, so he punched him in the face.
Authorities then interviewed Claypool, who told them he tried to enter his neighbor's apartment to claim money he believed was owed to him. Claypool suffered facial injuries from the assault, but refused medical treatment from fire and medical crews, deputies said.
Deputies said Claypool bled severely after crews left his apartment. His wife then took him to Munson Medical Center, where he was placed in the intensive care unit. She didn't return a call for comment.
Claypool died Monday, but his cause of death remains uncertain. Authorities wouldn't say whether the assault played a role in his death.
"We're going to wait for the autopsy," said Undersheriff Nathan Alger. "We can't even speculate at this point."
His body is expected to be transported to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids today for an autopsy, said sheriff's Sgt. Randy Fewless.
