No foul play suspected after dead body found at BFI recycling/recovery center in Lorain

OBERLIN, Ohio - Detectives are investigating after a body was found at a recycling center in Lorain County Wednesday morning.

Captain Jim Drozdowski with the Lorain County Sheriff's Office told NewsChannel5 a report came in at about 9 a.m. of a body being discovered at the BFI recycling/recovery center on Oberlin Elyria Road in Oberlin. The center is adjacent to the BFI landfill.

Investigators at the scene said the body rolled up on a conveyor belt while workers sorted through recycling material.

On Wednesday Aug. 22, 2012 at approximately 8:17 a.m., the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Republic Services located at 43560 Oberlin-Elyria Road, New Russia Township regarding a deceased subject found while processing material.

Lorain County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene as well as the Lorain County Coroner’s Office. At the scene a deceased white male approximately 5’11’’ and 160 lbs was located on a conveyor belt of the processing plant.

General Manager for Republic Services, Eric Van Houten, said they believe the body came in on one of their garbage trucks, but that hasn't been confirmed. "They were sorting through the recycling bins, normal part of their duties, this body came in," he said," it's very disconcerting to the employees obviously it's not something you want to come across in your line of work everyday."

The deceased was removed and transported to the Lorain County morgue. The unidentified man's finger prints were taken and run through the Automated Finger Print Identification System at the Lorain County Crime Lab.

His name is being withheld at this time until his family is notified.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed by the Lorain County Coroner’s Office. Further investigation into this matter will be conducted by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Sgt. Donald Barker said no obvious signs of foul play were found.