Local

Autopsy says Youngstown teen found dead in Sharon likely died from hypothermia

By Chris Pugh

Updated January 23, 2024 5:10 PM

Mercer County Coroner John A. Libonati says the death of a 16-year-old boy from Youngstown was likely caused from hypothermia.

Sharon police said Zachariah Croom was found in an outside stairwell of an apartment building in the 100 block of North Irvine Avenue, about 1:20 p.m. Sunday.

“It was determined that there is no suspicion of foul play or that the death of Mr. Croom was due to the direct act or action of another person or party however, a component of terminal environmental exposure (Hypothermia) is expected to be a contributing factor of the death,” Libonati said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

Libonati said additional forensic testing will be required to determine the cause and manner of death and is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete.