Ohio hires top pathologist in case of Castalia man, 19
9/14/2013CASTALIA, Ohio — A high-profile forensic pathologist who has weighed in on major criminal cases across the country will examine information related to the 2012 shooting death of a Castalia teenager at the request of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner who consulted on the death of actor John Belushi and testified in the O.J. Simpson trial, has been contracted by the state agency to assist its inquiry into the March, 2012, death of Jacob Limberios, 19.
The attorney general’s office was appointed to lead the investigation about three months ago.
Two autopsies have been performed in the case.
The first, by Dr. Cyril Wecht of Pittsburgh at the request of the teen’s family, determined that the death was a homicide — an opinion that contradicted the suicide ruling by Sandusky County Coroner John Wukie.
Later, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office performed a second autopsy and released findings “not inconsistent” with the suicide ruling.
The attorney general’s office has worked with Dr. Baden previously, spokesman Dan Tierney said.
He will review statements made by witnesses and provide expert forensic services, but Mr. Tierney would not say whether he would be asked to perform a third autopsy.
Mr. Tierney said a review of the forensic evidence led the office to determine Dr. Baden “was the best fit for this particular case.”
Mr. Tierney would not say how much the state was paying Dr. Baden, and the Attorney General’s Office denied a public records request to review the contract on the grounds any records “are [an] investigatory work product in a criminal law enforcement matter that has not concluded” and confidential.
Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6056, or on Twitter @vanmccray.