Coroner: Victim of Boardman fire was chained in a bathroom
A man whose body was found in a burning Boardman home last week had been chained to a toilet according to the Mahoning County Coroner.
BOARDMAN TWP., Ohio - A man whose body was found in a burning Boardman home last week had been chained to a toilet according to the Mahoning County Coroner.
As a result, the Coroner is investigating the death as a homicide for now.
The body found Wednesday morning in the burning Border Avenue home has been tentatively identified as that of 37-year-old Andrew Gallagher, who resided at the home. The body was so badly burned, the coroner is comparing DNA samples from Gallager's relatives to confirm the identity.
Gallagher has no local dentist who can provide records for dental comparisons.
Investigators say that the body was found in a locked house, in a second floor bathroom. A metal chain with a padlock was around the ankle of the victim securing the body to the base of the toilet.
An autopsy uncovered no signs of trauma and the victim appears to have died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Coroner says that Gallagher was known to have history of depression and apparently had tried to commit suicide in the past.
Fire damage extended to all rooms of the home, which has been demolished by order of the township.
The State Fire Marshal has not released the cause of the fire.
