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Coroner confirms man, 76, was slain
Austintown resident died of strangulation
By Elise Franco
Austintown
The Mahoning County coroner’s office confirms police suspicions that the death of a 76-year-old township man was a homicide.
A report issued Wednesday by the coroner’s office said that Stephen Shonn, of 3412 Bentwillow Lane, was strangled.
“At autopsy, no injuries were on the skin of the neck,” the report stated. “Extensive examination of the neck muscles revealed that Mr. Shonn died of manual strangulation.”
Dr. Joseph Ohr, deputy coroner, said manual strangulation means the offender used his or her own body to choke him, as opposed to using a rope or cord.
“Someone put their hands on him,” Ohr said.
Shonn was found dead by his 71-year-old wife, Judith Shonn, about 4:15 a.m. Jan. 19 in the basement of the couple’s home, police said. The victim was found face down with his hands at his sides. His pockets were emptied, and no wallet, cell phone or car keys were found near the body.
Dr. Ohr said it’s possible that because no injuries were visible on the victim’s skin, the killer came up to him from behind and choked him by putting an arm around his throat.
The coroner said in this case there’s really no way to tell for certain how Shonn was strangled.
He said the coroner’s office is still running tests on Shonn’s body.
“Of course, toxicology takes some time to run. We should have that back within another two weeks,” Dr. Ohr said. “At this point it’s going to take something dramatic for me to change the cause of death.”
Detective Sgt. Kathy Dina said police found Shonn’s car, which was missing from the residence, in the Brudders parking lot around 7 a.m. Wednesday — three hours after Shonn’s wife found him dead.
The detective said she hopes surveillance tapes from three businesses near Brudders will help police determine why Shonn’s car was at the restaurant, and if it was Shonn or someone else accompanying the vehicle.
Police have no suspects in the case. Anyone who may have information on the crime is asked to call the Austintown Police Department at 330-799-9721.