Findlay, Ohio — Police are investigating the suspicious deaths of two men found in a local apartment on Easter Sunday, which has raised concerns in the quiet community. The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. at a residence on the 700 block of Main Street, where 52-year-old Richard Gutierrez Jr. and 61-year-old Ernesto Mendoza were discovered deceased during a social gathering.
Authorities, who were summoned to the scene, learned that neither Gutierrez nor Mendoza lived in the apartment but were visiting a mutual friend. According to Lieutenant Detective Andrew Welch, several people were present in the apartment at the time, and the two men were known to be friends participating in the gathering.
Detective Welch expressed his concern over the nature of the deaths occurring at the same time. “It’s quite rare for such incidents to happen simultaneously, which certainly makes this a case that warrants thorough investigation,” Welch said. He mentioned that while police attempted to interview other attendees, the varying levels of intoxication and cooperation posed challenges, but emphasized that law enforcement is continuing to follow various leads.
The police have not yet determined a cause of death for either man and are awaiting autopsy reports which have been submitted in order to proceed with the investigation. Given the isolation of the case and the specific circumstances, Welch reassured the public there is no immediate risk to community safety.
This tragic occurrence has left the community grappling with many questions, and the ongoing investigation is keenly awaited. As detectives work to unravel the circumstances leading to these untimely deaths, the emphasis is on gathering all necessary details to ensure a clear understanding of the events.
The reverberations of this mysterious double death on Easter, a day typically filled with joy and gathering, underscores the complexities that can underlie private social gatherings and highlights the integral role of law enforcement in maintaining public safety, even when the situations appear isolated.