BUTLER, Ohio–Richland County Coroner Stewart D. Ryckman stated Friday that Chief Investigator Bob Ball confirmed that Janie Williams of Butler died of asphyxiation due to hanging in a suspected suicide.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, Ball identified the woman found Wednesday in Hitchman Park as 37-year-old Janie Williams of Butler.
Early reports noted the body of a white female was found around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Hitchman Park in Butler. The park is located off Elm Street, behind the Butler Clear Fork Valley Historical Society, and next to the B&O Bike Trail.
Butler Police Chief Brian Darby said he received calls early Wednesday from concerned community members who reported an object on the playground at the park. Upon arrival, Darby identified the object as the body of a white female.
Investigator Ball, who was dispatched to the scene on Wednesday, said he could not comment on Williams’ cause of death at the time, pending an autopsy and completion of his investigation. Ball described her as about 5-foot-2-inches tall and around 110 pounds. She was wearing light blue sweatshirt and sweatpants.
Williams’ body had been at the park at least 5 to 6 hours at the time she was discovered, Ball said.
Friday, Dec. 19, 2014; Staff Reporter Dillon Carr–Story updated with cause of death.
