On Sept 1, Sheriff’s Corporal V. Tiong received a call from Jefferson County Emergency Communications in regards to a person at Elwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown who appeared to be deceased. Upon arriving deputies located a deceased white male sitting on a dark red cooler.

Medics from Shepherdstown Fire Department stated that at 940 a.m. Dr. Langley from Medcom pronounced the subject deceased. Cause of death appeared to bde asphyxiation. Deputies took pictures of the surroundings as well as the individual.

Medical Examiner Keller was then called to the scene where he took possession of the body which was transported by Blue Ridge Fire Company to Spencer-Eackles Funeral Home, located in Harpers Ferry.

The deceased male had a set of keys in his possession. With those keys, SGT. Fletcher of the Sheriff’s Department located a Chevy Truck on S. Duke St., Shepherdstown. Upon searching the inside of the vehicle, a 4 page letter that was written by the individual was located and was determined to be a suicide letter. The letter was collected and a copy was provided to the Medical Examiner.

The male was identified as being Christopher James Koehler (DOB 11/21/1972), of Dundalk, Maryland. Attempts to locate and inform the next of kin have been completed.

A connection to Shepherdstown has not been determined at this time.

Shepherdstown Police, Shepherdstown Fire Department and Blue Ridge Fire Company all assisted in this effort.