Coroner Rules Teen’s Death A Homicide, Investigation Continues

(News/Talk 1480 WHBC) – A coroner has ruled on the cause and manner of death of a teenager found in a shallow grave in Carroll County in April.

14-year-old Jonathan Minard’s death has been ruled a homicide, and the cause was acute fentanyl intoxication, according to Carroll County Coroner Dr. Mandal B. Haas.

“Homicide, in death investigation and forensic medicine, simply means that the death was caused by the action or omissions of another person,” the coroner said.

“Some of these deaths may be subject to criminal prosecution, others are not. Coroner’s rulings are not determinative of any legal outcome.”

Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Steven D. Barnett says the coroner’s verdict must be considered with other investigative efforts of law enforcement, and that the investigation is ongoing.

“We will take appropriate legal action when we are comfortable that the investigation is sufficiently complete to do so,” he said.

Sheriff Dale Williams says deputies continue to work the case with help from the FBI and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

On April 19th, Minard’s body was found in a shallow grave on a farm in Washington Township.

The 14-year-old was last seen on April 13th heading to a friend’s farm to do some work.

At the news conference announcing that Jonathan’s body was located, the sheriff made it clear that details about the case wouldn’t be released until it was over.

“I’m not gonna comment on anything to jeopardize this investigation, because we are gonna do this from the beginning until the end, so we’re not gonna say anything about this until we are done with the investigation.”

The sheriff did previously say that they had a person of interest in the case.

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