Police Investigate Local Man’s Untimely Death

By Andrew Gorosko

Police are investigating the death of Benjamin Carroll, 21, of 1 Fieldstone Drive, who was found deceased at his home on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, according to Police Chief Michael Kehoe.

“We’re investigating it … It doesn’t appear to be a criminal matter,” Chief Kehoe said this week. “We’re looking into all possible causes of death,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Chief State Medical Examiner’s office in Farmington said this week that an autopsy was performed on Mr Carroll’s body, but the medical examiner is awaiting the results of toxicology tests before specifying Mr Carroll’s cause of death. The toxicology test results are expected in six to 12 weeks.

Police are awaiting the medical examiner’s report to aid them in their investigation, Chief Kehoe said.

Chief Kehoe said Mr Carroll’s parents found him unresponsive in his room at home. Police were called to the home midday on Thanksgiving. Police investigated the matter as a untimely death.

“I don’t want to jump to conclusions about how he died,” Chief Kehoe said.

In a brief police report on Mr Carroll’s death, police stated, “The victim was found deceased in his bedroom by his parents … The cause of death is unknown at this time and the case is under investigation by the Connecticut medical examiner and the Newtown Police Department.”

Sergeant John Cole and patrol officers Richard Robinson and Felicia Figol investigated.

Mr Carroll was  born on June 26, 1984, in West Plains, Mo.

He had played football at Newtown High School before going to college. He was a senior at the University of Rhode Island and was the manager at Rams Den at campus, a student-run food facility. He was a mentor for the newly enrolled students in college.

Survivors include his parents Philip and Kathleen Carroll of Newtown and two sisters, Rachel Brumbalow of Texas and Stacy Purcell of Newtown.

Funeral services were held November 29 at St Rose of Lima Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Internment will be at the convenience of the family.