Police found Edward J. Gilliam dead on Sept. 30, 2012, at 404 W. Penn St., Shenandoah.
Exactly how, and perhaps why, Gilliam died could be learned today when county Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III holds an inquest into his death beginning at 10 a.m. at Simon Kramer Institute, New Philadelphia.
A six-person coroner’s jury will hear testimony about the circumstances surrounding the death of Gilliam, 46, of Shenandoah.
“The main reason that we’re doing it is for the sake of the family,” District Attorney Christine A. Holman said Wednesday.
Holman said the inquest should last approximately five hours, not counting the time the jury deliberates. As required by state law, Holman will question witnesses while Moylan presides over the inquest.
In his report, Shenandoah police Chief George F. Carado Jr. said he responded to a call and found Gilliam’s body in a third-floor bedroom. Gilliam was on his knees, with a tourniquet, syringe, metal spoon, cotton filters, lighters and eight empty baggies around him, according to Carado.
However, toxicology tests turned out to be negative for the presence of controlled substances, Holman said.
Holman said witnesses at the inquest will include forensic pathologist Dr. Barbara K. Bollinger.
“She has opined that the decedent had an enlarged heart” and that his death was natural, Holman said.
She said other witnesses will include Carado, Moylan, Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak and members of Gilliam’s family.
“The family claims that he had an aversion to needles,” Holman said.
County Detective Martin Heckman also issued a report on Gilliam’s death.
Whatever the result, Holman said the inquest should answer at least some questions about Gilliam’s death.
“We’re not looking to use this as a witch hunt,” she said. “We’re not just giving up on this. We’re going to let six neutral people ... view the evidence that we have and see where it goes.”
Today’s inquest will be the second Moylan, a Republican who is running this year for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, has conducted since being elected in 2011.
On March 31, he held an inquest, also at Simon Kramer Institute, to investigate the death of Matthew J. Koncsler, 21, of Shenandoah, who was found dead on March 31, 2013, in his cell at Schuylkill County Prison. The coroner’s jury in that case ruled that Koncsler died from an accidental drug overdose but that official neglect contributed to his death.