TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015

THE BODY OF A WHITE MALE WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 P. M. BY POLICE INVESTIGATORS IN THE 17600 BLOCK OF WESLEY CHAPEL ROAD IN NORTHWEST ALLEN COUNTY. THE DECEDENT IS IDENTIFIED AS MERLEN DUANE SESLAR, AGE 71. SESLAR WAS FOUND WITH A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND NEAR HIS RESIDENCE, WHICH WAS THE SCENE OF A HOUSE FIRE. SEVERAL CATS PERISHED IN THE BLAZE, BUT THE HOUSE WAS OTHERWISE UNOCCUPIED.

THE ALLEN COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE HAS RULED SESLAR’S DEATH A SUICIDE. THE INCIDENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE ALLEN COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

PATT KITE
SENIOR INVESTIGATOR/DEPUTY CORONER
ALLEN COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE