Macron's death ruled 'undetermined' by medical examiner
Puncture wounds, lacerations were nonlethal, coroner says
Bryon C. Macron
MEDINA – An autopsy report determined the cause of Lafayette Township Trustee Bryon Macron’s death to be undetermined, despite the presence of numerous wounds.
The six incised (puncture) wounds and five lacerations found on Macron’s body were not lethal on their own, said Medina County Coroner Lisa Deranek during a July 24 press conference at the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.
“None of these wounds alone would have caused Mr. Macron’s death,” she said. “They would have caused some blood loss, but not his death.”
No blunt force trauma was reported to Macron’s head or neck; there was also no water found in his lungs, despite his body being found in Chippewa Lake two months after his disappearance.
The final report, performed by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, took months to complete due to waiting on toxicology reports, Dr. Deranek said. This screen showed Macron’s body only tested positive for alcohol with no presence of any other drugs. It was suspected he may have ingested amphetamines, but was found it was only in his system due to decomposition.
The determined causes of death are natural, accidental, homicide, suicide and undermined, with Macron’s ruled as undetermined since results support no other category, Deranek said. The cause of death cannot be changed, but the manner of death can be changed if new evidence comes to light.
Sheriff’s Capt. David Centner provided an update on the investigation; surveillance video shows Macron’s vehicle was at the township administration building on Wedgewood Road at 1:50 a.m. Dec. 16, 2016, and blood later determined to be his was found in the offices and bathroom, including shoeprints matching those Macron had on when his body was discovered.
No additional blood or DNA belonging to anyone else was found at the scene, Centner said, and there was no proof anyone was either in the township office or in the car during this time period.
“Our investigators have determined based on all the evidence obtained to date, that no other person but Bryon Macron was involved in his death,” he said. “What we know is that there was no one else involved.”
Despite this determination, Centner said the investigation is still open and ongoing.
The vehicle was seen leaving the office at 6:24 a.m. Dec. 16, and was seen passing a residence by the lake about 10 minutes later; about an hour later, a township employee called police after discovering the office scene and the vehicle was found around 8:45 a.m. at the public parking lot at Chippewa Lake.
Centner said Macron had incurred some debts before his death.
“It’s important to note leading up to Mr. Macron’s death that Mr. Macron himself had incurred a large amount of financial debt along with other personal behaviors that were unknown to his family and friends,” Centner said, declining to give further details out of respect for his family.
Centner said Macron’s laptop was sent to FBI headquarters in Virginia; Macron reportedly changed his password and installed security software before he disappeared and local authorities were unable to get into it.
Deranek and Centner said they had spoken with the Macron family and their attorney before the press conference, with Macron’s wife Victoria Macron appearing “visibly upset” at the news.
Richard Lillie, the attorney hired by the Macron family, said July 24 they will continue investigating the matter and “see what we can find out.”
The six incised (puncture) wounds and five lacerations found on Macron’s body were not lethal on their own, said Medina County Coroner Lisa Deranek during a July 24 press conference at the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.
“None of these wounds alone would have caused Mr. Macron’s death,” she said. “They would have caused some blood loss, but not his death.”
No blunt force trauma was reported to Macron’s head or neck; there was also no water found in his lungs, despite his body being found in Chippewa Lake two months after his disappearance.
The final report, performed by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, took months to complete due to waiting on toxicology reports, Dr. Deranek said. This screen showed Macron’s body only tested positive for alcohol with no presence of any other drugs. It was suspected he may have ingested amphetamines, but was found it was only in his system due to decomposition.
The determined causes of death are natural, accidental, homicide, suicide and undermined, with Macron’s ruled as undetermined since results support no other category, Deranek said. The cause of death cannot be changed, but the manner of death can be changed if new evidence comes to light.
Sheriff’s Capt. David Centner provided an update on the investigation; surveillance video shows Macron’s vehicle was at the township administration building on Wedgewood Road at 1:50 a.m. Dec. 16, 2016, and blood later determined to be his was found in the offices and bathroom, including shoeprints matching those Macron had on when his body was discovered.
No additional blood or DNA belonging to anyone else was found at the scene, Centner said, and there was no proof anyone was either in the township office or in the car during this time period.
“Our investigators have determined based on all the evidence obtained to date, that no other person but Bryon Macron was involved in his death,” he said. “What we know is that there was no one else involved.”
Despite this determination, Centner said the investigation is still open and ongoing.
The vehicle was seen leaving the office at 6:24 a.m. Dec. 16, and was seen passing a residence by the lake about 10 minutes later; about an hour later, a township employee called police after discovering the office scene and the vehicle was found around 8:45 a.m. at the public parking lot at Chippewa Lake.
Centner said Macron had incurred some debts before his death.
“It’s important to note leading up to Mr. Macron’s death that Mr. Macron himself had incurred a large amount of financial debt along with other personal behaviors that were unknown to his family and friends,” Centner said, declining to give further details out of respect for his family.
Centner said Macron’s laptop was sent to FBI headquarters in Virginia; Macron reportedly changed his password and installed security software before he disappeared and local authorities were unable to get into it.
Deranek and Centner said they had spoken with the Macron family and their attorney before the press conference, with Macron’s wife Victoria Macron appearing “visibly upset” at the news.
Richard Lillie, the attorney hired by the Macron family, said July 24 they will continue investigating the matter and “see what we can find out.”