Just checking in, I am around, I am busy making this photo thing for the funeral, and getting clothes ready, and just generally putting things out of mind for a few hours.

I have to finally take a pain pill for migraine pain..so I am feeling "cloud-like" it feels great, like a song I like..."""Comfortably numb"

there is a latest article saying ruled no fowl play so I will accept this...honestly ..dead is dead, (the earthy body) at this point, it doesn't change that fact. and I got the headache trying to find answers we may never get.

cross post at IC:

My daughter just sent me this article.

I will accept this story as what happened. Unless/until someone is found that can tell us how a confused man got lost, not a few miles from home but over 40-50 miles???? that will be the only question I now have. I cannot allow myself to think of the what ifs....I know he was "confused" alot..I know he knew his limits of travel, but I / WE as a family never knew he had extensive heart troubles. Here is the lastest article.

Local News

Coroner: No foul play suspected in Driscoll's death

By NANCY REED, Journal Staff Writer November 02, 2001

WARREN - Although the Trumbull County coroner has yet to make a final ruling in the death of a 76-year-old Leetonia man, a medical examiner stated Thursday preliminary findings point to the cause of death as being cardiac related. Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk stated that the investigation into the death of Joe Driscoll, a retired educator and school administrator, missing from Leetonia since Oct. 20, is still continuing but at this time no signs of foul play have turned up nor was his death accidental as first thought.

"He appears to have died of natural causes," he stressed.

Having gone over evidence gathered by Leetonia Police since the man's disappearance and in touring the area where Driscoll's body was found about 300 yards away from his van, Germaniuk stated the situation appeared classic of an elderly man becoming confused and failing to think things through.

He said investigators now believe, Driscoll had missed a turn off somewhere and ended up driving down a paved road which turns into a dirt road and later, a mere path that dead ends into a cornfield, encircled by a wooded area. He said the nearest house was about a third of a mile away.

"I nearly missed the turn off myself," he stated. "You have here an elderly man who got confused."

He said investigators are also speculating that when Driscoll realized his van was stuck in the mud, he attempted to free the vehicle by placing a pillow case over the wheel and when all else failed, took off on foot with a flashlight.

Germaniuk explained that Driscoll suffered from extensive heart problems and the exertion of attempting to get his van out of the mud, the stress of the situation and the man's trekking across the densely wooded area all could have contributed to a fatal cardiac attack.

"I fell twice today myself (in that area)," he admitted.

Germaniuk said he always attempts to caution anyone finding themselves in a similar situation, especially seniors or those with cardiac problems to "STOP."

"That would be sit, think, observe and plan," he stressed.

Inner Connections

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

Answers

Sue, I'm so glad there was no evidence of foul play. As you say, dead is dead--true, but at least you know he was not deliberately killed. It would have been much harder to bear to know that someone took his life.

We'll all be thinking of you.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

SAR, as hard as it is, the thought of someone killing him was unbearable. I hope this report is true, and that it brought you some comfort.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

(((((Sue)))))

You are right; when they are gone, they are gone, but only in the physical sense. Mine has been gone for many years, yet he is still often with me. Yours will be, too. Your Dad was obviously an extraordinary man; you are a testament to his ideals and values.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

((((((SAR!))))))

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001