Man likely set house fire, hanged himself in barn, pathologist says

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office has made a preliminary determination that Robert Schmader, 52, of 12955 Lisbon Road, committed suicide after setting his home ablaze Friday night.

Firefighters found his body in a pole barn near the scene of the fire at his Green Township house.

Dr. Joseph Ohr, forensic pathologist and deputy coroner, said Tuesday the cause of death was hanging and issued a tentative ruling of suicide, adding the case remains under investigation.

Schmader is suspected of setting the fire in his residence before entering the pole barn behind the burning residence and hanging himself, Dr. Ohr said.

There were no burns or other injuries on Schmader’s body, Dr. Ohr said.

Schmader was found unbound, hanging by his neck from a rope fashioned into a noose, the coroner’s office said. Schmader’s motive is still under investigation.

No suicide note was found at the scene, the pathologist said.

No other human bodies were found in the barn or house, he said.

Dr. Ohr said that, as far as he knows, nobody else was in the house or barn when the fire and hanging occurred.