Troopers Investigate Apparent Suicide In Newark

Location: Rear property of Etta J. Wilson School, 14 Forge Road, Newark, Delaware

Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 2:15 p.m.

Involved party: male subject in his late 40’s residing in the Newark area

Resume: At approximately 2:15 p.m. this afternoon, Troopers were called to Etta James School in Newark for an apparent suicide on school property.

This investigation revealed that several school children were on the school’s playground when the students noticed a subject in a tree on the western perimeter of the property- about 50-75 yards away.

One of the students told a school custodian. The custodian looked toward the tree and immediately recognized the person was hanging and lifeless. Cpl/2 Jeff Whitmarsh says, “This custodian actually played the incident off to the benefit of the children, and acted as if it was just some inanimate object they had seen. He then cleared the playground without hesitation and contacted school officials, placing the school on lockdown. Our belief is that the custodian minimized the impact this incident could have had on these students. The school’s administration also acted swiftly, taking quick action”

The deceased subject has been turned over to the State Medical Examiners Office.

No foul play is suspected.

School officials advise counseling will be made available to the children.