A notorious criminal who was arrested after robbing a Redmond drugstore in 2010 has died at the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe.
James Fogle, 75, spent much of his life robbing pharmacies throughout the Pacific Northwest to feed his drug addiction. He authored the book Drugstore Cowboy, which inspired Portland director Gus Van Sant to make the critically acclaimed film of the same name in 1989.
Redmond Police arrested Fogle in May 2010 after he robbed the on Redmond Way. Fogle pleaded guilty in 2011 to first-degree robbery with a firearm enhancement and .
His death was confirmed Friday by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner. The manner of death was determined to be naturally caused by probable malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer often caused by exposure to asbestos.
