Hearing set on autopsy order
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Jason Tomei wants to know how his father died.
The Las Vegas man hopes some answers will come out after a hearing today in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. Tomei and his brother, Joseph Tomei of Arizona, are seeking to have an autopsy done on their father's remains.
Joseph Tomei Jr., 59, of Shenango Township, was found dead June 13, 2006, at his Harmony Baptist Road home after failing to show up for work.
Jason Tomei says his father was leading a very healthy lifestyle after having heart surgery several years ago. He walked regularly and ate a healthful diet.
The death certificate states Joseph Tomei died of coronary heart disease, but no autopsy was done after he died. Jason Tomei said he and his brother just want to be sure how their father died and have hired Pittsburgh pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht to perform an autopsy.
According to court records dated Dec. 12, 2006, the sons and their stepmother agreed that Joseph Tomei's body be exhumed and an autopsy be performed.
Their stepmother, Edith Tomei, however, has not signed off on the autopsy.
Today's hearing is to determine if she is in contempt of the court order, which instructed her to agree to the autopsy.
Jason Tomei said he hopes the judge will also during that hearing order the autopsy be done.