Coroner: Man, 87, died of positional asphyxia

5/2/2009

Positional asphyxia is the preliminary cause of death of a nursing home resident whose body was exhumed this week, the Lucas County Coroner s Office said.

The body of Robert Coe, 87, was exhumed and autopsied Thursday, after the Ohio Department of Health received an anonymous tip that the man died suspiciously.

Mr. Coe was a resident at Swan Pointe Care Center, 3500 Butz Rd. in Monclova Township, when he died last month. No one at the nursing home was available for comment.

State health department spokesman Sara Morman said she only could confirm that an investigation is under way.