Limberios death ruled 'self-inflicted accidental shooting' after state probe

11/20/2013

FREMONT -- The death of a Castalia teenager was caused by a self-inflicted accidental shooting, an investigation by the state attorney general has found.

The news about the death of Jacob Limberios, 19, was announced today by retired Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Dale Crawford, during a news conference at the Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas. The news conference was called to announce the results of the special prosecution and BCI investigation into the March, 2012, shooting death.

Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the attorney general, said in October that the AG office would impanel a grand jury early this month to hear about its investigation into the Limberios death. Details surrounding the teenager’s death have been the subject of local and state investigations after his family rejected a conclusion of suicide.

The teenager’s death was ruled a suicide by Sandusky County Coroner John Wukie, and the Lucas County Coroner’s Office issued findings “not inconsistent” with that ruling.

But the first autopsy — performed by Dr. Cyril Wecht of Pittsburgh at the request of the teen’s family — determined his death was a homicide.

The Attorney General’s office took over the investigation about five months ago. 

Mr. Crawford said the the grand jury declined to make a determination that anyone else was involved.