A man and wife are charged in connection with the death of a man whose body was found near the high school building in Marion in early August. Fifty-eight-year-old Gale Ferroggiario of Marion was found dead and an autopsy determined he died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs.
Police arrested 40-year-old Gwyndolyn Travis Townsel and her 46-year-old husband Eric on a variety of charges, including third-degree burglary and abuse of a human corpse. Marion Police Sergeant John Chipman says the couple lived near the man who died.
"The investigation has revealed now that he passed away and his body was moved to the Marion high school," Chipman says. The couple’s also charged with child endangerment. "At some point during the incident, the defendants’ minor children were present in the residence," Chipman says.
Early on August 6th, a school maintenance worker discovered Ferroggiaro’s partially-clothed body outside on school grounds. The dead man was not sexually abused, but Sergeant Chipman suggests the couple may face charges in addition to abuse of a human corpse.
"The body was moved or hidden to hide the basis of another crime," Chipman says. "That other crime is still under investigation. We’re not commenting on what that is." Police say the couple was charged with burglary because they are suspected of stealing items from the victim’s apartment.
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