Summary
- Edward James Donegan, 74, of Colorado, was found dead in Richmond on October 4.
- Virginia State Police's October 22 appeal sought help reaching his next of kin.
- Police said no foul play was suspected; the reports did not disclose a cause of death.
An appeal to reach relatives
Virginia State Police have asked for help locating relatives of Edward James Donegan, a 74-year-old man from Colorado who was found dead in Richmond on October 4, 2026. The agency publicly identified him in an appeal aimed at reaching his family. Its request concerns notification of next of kin, rather than an unidentified person's identity. [1]
The distinction matters to the limited purpose of the announcement: investigators know the man's name, age and home state, but said they had not been able to locate and notify his loved ones. The public appeal asks for information that can help establish contact with family members. [1]
What police reported
According to a State Police spokesperson quoted by WTVR, troopers responded at approximately 5:42 p.m. on October 4 after receiving a report of a deceased person. The location was along southbound Interstate 95 near Chamberlayne Avenue in Richmond. Police said Donegan was in a wooded area approximately 30 feet from the roadway. [2]
That account describes where and when troopers responded, not a determination of when the death occurred. WTVR's report does not explain why Donegan was in Richmond or how he reached the wooded area. Those questions should remain separate from the details police have confirmed about the discovery itself. [2]
Cause remains undisclosed
Police said the circumstances surrounding Donegan's death remained under investigation and that no foul play was suspected. WTVR reported both statements together. The absence of suspected foul play is the agency's stated assessment; it is not a published explanation of how he died or a finding that resolves every unanswered question. [2]
Augusta Free Press likewise reported the continuing investigation without providing a cause of death. Its October 22 story said investigators had spent nearly three weeks trying to reach relatives. The discovery and the later public appeal are therefore separate developments, not reports of a new death on the announcement date. [3]
Keep the focus on notification
The appeal is directed to relatives or people with information that could help investigators locate them. Augusta Free Press reported that State Police released Donegan's name so his loved ones could be notified. It did not identify family members, and this account does not infer any family relationship from a shared surname. [3]
The status described here is the one reported in the October 22 appeal: investigators had not yet notified next of kin. Neither the cited announcement nor the accompanying local report establishes a later notification outcome. Information relevant to the request belongs with State Police through the official channels linked in the source report. [3]
Reporting sources
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