The Franklin County coroner’s office has confirmed that Ariel Castro committed suicide, by hanging himself in his prison cell.
After a 90-minute autopsy, the official cause of death was listed as asphyxiation. Castro was found Sunday night, in his cell in central Ohio. His lawyer and the ACLU are calling for a complete investigation. Last month, Castro was sentenced to life in prison, plus 1,000 years, for kidnapping and torturing three women, over a 10-year period.
A crash in Huron Township has claimed a Sandusky woman.
69-year-old Betty Powers died last night, a few hours after the three-car crash on Cleveland Road, near Barnes Nursery. Investigators believe Powers suffered a medical condition that caused her to lose control of her car. According to reports, her car hit the back of another car, caught fire, then slammed into a nearby tree. A third car was hit in the mishap. Barnes Nursery employees were able to extinguish much of the blaze. Powers was flown to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, but was pronounced dead at 8:30 last night.
The state highway patrol says there were 13 fatal crashes in Ohio during Labor Day weekend.
That includes double-fatal crashes in Ottawa and Lorain counties. Statewide, more than 750 drivers were arrested for DUI. That’s an increase of nine percent from last year. Drug arrests were up 32 percent, during Labor Day weekend.
More road work…
State Route 99, between Township Road 34 and State Route 547 in Monroeville will close Monday. The road is expected to re-open October 31st.
A new contract between the Huron City Schools and classified employees will save the district nearly $500,000 over the next four years.
The deal calls for 1-percent raises, and increased employee health insurance contributions. Classified employees include secretaries, bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.
Six months in jail, for a Shelby man convicted of stealing jewelry from relatives in Huron County.
With credit for time already served, 23-year-old Cody Bruner will spend less than two months behind bars. Once he’s out, he’ll serve three years probation. In addition to jail time and probation, Bruner was ordered to pay more than $11,000 restitution.
If state lawmakers don’t approve Governor John Kasich’s proposal to expand Medicaid, the issue could go to voters.
A coalition of health-care providers, unions and others launched a campaign yesterday that could put the issue on the November, 2014 ballot.