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Authorities have officially changed the manner of death of a man who attended a Jason Aldean concert in July 2014, which was previously ruled undetermined.
Now, it’s a homicide.
Cory Barron attended Aldean’s concert at Progressive Field in Downtown Cleveland, Ohio, when he fell down a five-story garbage chute in a back room. His body was found at a landfill in Oberlin four days later. He was 22. The Lorain County Coroner's Office confirmed in a statement to Cleveland’s 3News on Monday (November 14) that Barron’s death has now been ruled a homicide. Officials said in a statement:
“Since the death of Cory Barron in 2014, additional investigation has been conducted by private investigators and the Cleveland Division of Police. The Lorain County Coroner has been provided with information by the Cleveland Police that Cory Barron was involved in an altercation at Progressive Field prior to his disappearance and death. In light of the additional information, his death was due to the actions or failure to act of another person or persons. The manner of death for Cory Barron has been changed from undetermined to homicide.
“The cause of death for Cory Barron is unchanged and is sequelae of multiple blunt impacts to the head, trunk and extremities due to descent down a trash chute into an enclosed dumpster. The manner is homicide.”
Though the initial coroner’s report indicated that Barron’s death did not involve foul play, his family continued to use for further answers, including by hiring a detective in 2019, 3News noted in its recent report. Investigators stirred a renewed effort to change Barron’s manner of death last year, after further investigating the case and uncovering new information.
Sergeant Aaron Reese told Cleveland’s News 5 that “there's further DNA testing that we conducted and are seeking to conduct,” when asked about the change in Barron’s manner of death. He added, when speaking to the news station: “I don't believe — the evidence suggests that Cory didn't voluntarily go into that trash chute.”
Contact the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464 or Crimestoppers at 216-252-7463 with any additional information about the case. Callers can remain anonymous.