Death of Chillicothe man ruled accidental

The death of a Chillicothe man found in Paint Creek two months ago has been ruled an accident, according to the Ross County Coroner. Joshua M. Whitaker, 39, was found by construction workers along Paint Creek on Aug. 14, approximately a week after he was reported missing. On Aug 14th construction workers reported they spotted a body directly under a bridge on U.S. 23 near the exits for Eastern Avenue and Three Locks Road and was identified as Whitaker later that day. Whitaker’s autopsy was conducted in Montgomery County by a deputy coroner that concluded on Sept. 24 that Whitaker died from drowning. The official determination was made on Oct. 2 by Ross County Coroner Dr. John Gabis, who ruled the death accidental and expanded the cause to include “methamphetamine use,” due to the presence of amphetamines in Whitaker’s system. The toxicology report also noted the presence of ethanol, a compound found in alcohol, in Whitaker’s system as well as a broken rib.