Prosecutor reviewing new investigation of 1999 death

FREMONT – The Sandusky County Prosecutor is reviewing a 34-page reported compiled by police based off a tip from anonymous phone message regarding the death of a 21-year-man in 1999.

The man who called Fremont police in April said that around the time of Lee Naus’ death, two men — whom the caller named — threw Naus, who was drunk, into a dumpster near Bud’s Tavern on West State Street. Naus was crushed after the dumpster was unloaded into a garbage truck.

In the message, both Lee Swartz, a former Sandusky County Sheriff’s Deputy, and Bud’s Tavern owner John Weiker were named as two persons of interest who may have put Naus in the dumpster.

The investigation was handled by Sean O’Connell, who was with the Fremont police in 1999 and is now a detective for the Sandusky Sheriff’s Office.

“Sean (O’Connell) said he tried to talk to Swartz and Swartz did not cooperate,” Fremont police Capt. Jim White said. “Swartz said O’Connell never approached him.”

Fremont police detective Roger Oddo, who handled the 2015 investigation of the tip, spent three months interviewing 74 people before compiling his report. That report is being reviewed by Sandusky County Prosecutor Tom Stierwalt.

Oddo said all police comments about the case would be made by White. Stierwalt said Thursday that he has not finished reading the report, and declined to say if charges would be filed.

Stierwalt said he needs to clarify some issues with Oddo before deciding if charges would be filed, or if there is nothing new to report.

“There’s some information I will take to Detective Oddo about possible followups,” Stierwalt said.

Fremont police reports from the 1999 investigation show that police received the same tip regarding the people mentioned in the anonymous call received in April. They also checked on similar tips regarding other people alleged to have thrown Naus, whom the tipster said had passed out, into the dumpster.

Naus went out with friends on Sept. 30, 1999. A garbage truck driver found his body around 3 a.m. Oct. 1 after emptying a Dumpster in the area of Bud's Tavern on West State Street and compacting the garbage.

Naus died of multiple blunt force trauma from the trash compactor, according to the autopsy report from the Lucas County Coroner's Office.

Naus’ father told police his son called him around 2 a.m. Oct. 1 because he needed a ride home, police reports show. Poor phone reception kept the father from hearing exactly where his son was, he told police.

The father then drove to Fremont and unsuccessfully searched for his son from 2:15 to 4 a.m., according to police reports.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: CraigShoupNH