He was a freshman at Pasco High School, and attended McLoughlin Middle School last year. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office reported Dalen and two friends were sniffing butane, a fluid used in cigarette lighters, on the 3200 block of Janet Street. The boys apparently didn't call police. About 10 minutes later, a person walking by saw Dalen on the ground and tried unsuccessfully to revive him, police said. Pasco paramedics responded, but Dalen was already dead.
Butane is sniffed to get high, much like sniffing gasoline or paint.
But it can cause the heart to defibrillate, or stop beating and quiver, said Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel. An autopsy done Friday afternoon didn't reveal any other physical problems with Dalen, Blasdel said. A toxicology report, which could take up to two weeks, will determine if there were drugs or butane in Dalen's system. Franklin County Detective Jim Johnston said he arrested Dalen's two friends last week for inhaling paint. Johnston also said he had arrested Dalen in the past in connection with malicious mischief, phone harassment and theft.