Man found on South Side missing since October

January 3, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Police said Friday that they previously had searched the same area where a man’s body was found Thursday but could not find him.

Lt. Doug Bobovnyik of the detective bureau said investigators searched the area around West Gibson Street and Mabel Avenue for 24-year-old Anthony Harrison of Austintown shortly after he was reported missing, but there was no sign of his body.

Cadaver-sniffing dogs from other agencies were even brought in, but they could find no sign of Harrison.

“We did a search at that time, but we missed that spot,” Bobovnyik said.

Harrison was found about 1:45 p.m. Thursday by a man walking his dog. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

A news release from the Mahoning County Coroner’s office said Harrison’s body was badly decomposed and was frozen to the ground when it was found. There were no obvious signs of injury or foul play around the body.

Because of the condition of the body, an autopsy must be done to determine a cause of death, Bobovnyik said.

Harrison was identified through a series of tattoos he had on his arms that were compared with photos on file with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office. Family members also helped to identify him.

Harrison was reported missing Oct. 10 by a girlfriend who said she last had talked to him Oct. 8.

Austintown Township police were able to track Harrison through a cellphone to a home in the 200 block of Hilton Avenue, but he was not there. Police, however, did find returned mail for Harrison at that address.

Bobovnyik said investigators learned that Harrison had been in Youngstown and they think he died in the city.

“We believe his death occurred in Youngstown,” Bobovnyik said.