Missing 'Bula man found dead in Gulf

By: Star Beacon - Shelley terry

ASHTABULA — The search for a man missing from a Collins Boulevard group home ended when his body was found submerged in the Ashtabula Gulf 12 hours later, authorities said.

Sean Reichert, 32, a resident of Bridgeview Manor, 4428 Collins Blvd., was reported missing Monday night when he didn’t sign back in, according to Richard Mongell, an investigator with the Ashtabula County Coroner’s Office. Reichert was last seen at 11 a.m. Monday at Bridgeview Manor, Mongell said.

“Two to three weeks ago, he threw his bike over the cliff (of the Ashtabula Gulf behind the home),” Mongell said. “He wanted it back.”

Bridgeview Manor officials feared Reichert may have fallen over the steep bank while looking for his bicycle, according to the Ashtabula Fire Department report.

At 9 a.m. Tuesday, police and firefighters arrived on the scene to look for Reichert. Firefighters descended the hill to the Ashtabula River and discovered Reichert’s body in the water, the report said. They called for the coroner, and Reichert was pronounced dead at the scene.

“He suffered severe head injuries,” Mongell said.

Police re

covered the bicycle nearby, reports show. Firefighters set up a rope rescue system to recover the body. The body was placed in a body bag and strapped to a basket. The basket was cranked in using rope and a winch, and firefighters scaled the Gulf hill with the body, reports show. At the top of the hill, the body was turned over to Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory, reports show.

Firefighters and police left the scene at 11:31 a.m., reports show.

Mongell said an autopsy will be performed today.