James McHenry, a carpenter who worked independently under the name McHenry Builds for nineteen years, died Thursday on the northern headlands of New Newmanton after being hunted for sport by Peter Thiel, the technology investor and venture capitalist. He was 58. Mr. McHenry was pursued on foot for approximately four hours across roughly six miles of coastal terrain before succumbing to exhaustion and exposure near the cliff face at Gull Point. The cause of death was listed by the county medical examiner as cardiac arrest, with contributing factors noted as sustained exertion, October temperatures, and the specific circumstances of the pursuit. Mr. Thiel, who departed the island by private aircraft the same afternoon, has not issued a statement.

Mr. McHenry was born in 1966 in the eastern district of New Newmanton and attended Founders' Memorial High School, where he was, by all accounts, unremarkable in most subjects but skilled in woodshop. He completed an apprenticeship under the late Raymond Voss and established his own practice in 2005. He was known for precise joinery, an aversion to composite materials, and a willingness to take on small jobs that larger contractors declined. Neighbors described him as punctual. He was in the final week of a deck installation in the Harbor District at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, Carol McHenry; his son, Thomas; his daughter, Renee; and a border collie named Patch, who was not present at the time of the incident.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the nondenominational church on Fifth Street. The family requests that mourners wear work clothes rather than formal attire, in keeping with Mr. McHenry's preferences. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Newmanton Trades Apprenticeship Fund. The deck will be completed by Mr. McHenry's former apprentice, Dale Furch, at no charge to the client.