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Coroner, State Police at Odds Over Garner Death

The Blair County coroner and the Pennsylvania State Police are at odds over the recent ruling that a man found dead in the parking lot of the former Bickel’s Surplus building in Roaring Spring committed suicide.

The body of John R. Garner, 64, of Everett, was found in the parking lot on the morning of April 18.

Garner had been treated for a laceration of the arm the evening before at Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring, just a few hundred yards from where his body was found.

Police originally investigated Garner’s death as a hit-and-run, and sought the public’s help in identifying a vehicle seen in the area around the time Garner was found.

An autopsy performed on April 19 originally concluded that Garners’ death was the result of blunt force trauma, possibly being caused by a vehicle with a “high profile,” such as a truck or SUV.

Last week, Ross ruled that Garner died by suicide, a ruling that state police say is premature.

According to a statement by the state police, their investigation into Garner’s death is still active and that not all evidence collected at the scene has been tested.

Ross said the original theory that Garner died of injuries after being struck by a vehicle changed after the autopsy showed the injuries he sustained were not consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle.

Ross said Garner’s injuries point to jumping from the roof of the building onto the pavement.

Ross said access to the roof could have been gained by the stairs on the side of the building or by wooden pallets that were piled up.

Although Ross has made her ruling, state police said they have not closed the investigation and continue to look at all possibilities.

 

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