Coroner’s jury rules
on three deaths

PRINCETON — A Bureau County coroner’s jury convened Friday and returned rulings on three Bureau County deaths.

The coroner’s jury ruled the Sept. 3 death of Roger Lucas, 47, of Princeton to be accidental.

Lucas died following a motorcycle/minivan collision about 5:37 p.m. Sept. 3 on Route 34, near LaMoille, when the minivan turned in front of Lucas’ motorcycle. No tickets were issued in the accident.

Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff told the jury she pronounced Lucas dead at the scene. Lucas’ death was due to massive trauma to the head and brain. Toxicology reports came back negative, she said.

Also testifying on the accident before the coroner’s jury was Patrolman Randy Dean with the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department.

The coroner’s jury ruled the Sept. 15 death of Matthew Stephens, 19, of Princeton to be suicide.

Investigator Barry Portman with the Princeton Police Department said Stephens was found in the basement of his home about 11 p.m. by a friend.

Wamhoff said Stephens death was due to asphyxiation. Toxicology reports came back negative.

The coroner’s jury ruled the Aug. 18 death of Brenda Poff, 50, of Princeton to be accidental.

Wamhoff said toxicology reports indicated Poff died from an overdose of pain medicine. Poff also suffered from sleep apnea, which causes breathing to stop for periods of time while sleeping, which could have been a factor in Poff’s death.

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