Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis

Major Case Squad: Man's death in storage unit was suicide

BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN - News-Democrat

Police say the death of a 42-year-old man whose body was found in a Swansea storage unit was an apparent suicide.

The body of Daniel R. Heldenbrand of Belleville was found Tuesday at a storage facility in the 1400 block of North Illinois in Swansea after someone reported a foul odor emanating from the storage unit. The unit was rented to Heldenbrand.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was called in to help with the investigation because he had been reporting missing on March 4 and police initially suspected foul play involved in Heldenbrand's death.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated to investigate the death of a man found at the U-Store-It storage facility on North Illinois Street next to the MetroLink overpass and across from the former Dairy Queen in Swansea. - Steve Nagy

"An autopsy was conducted and preliminary results indicate it was consistent with a suicidal death," Connor said Wednesday afternoon. "The Major Case Squad will be disbanding this evening and the case will be referred back to the Swansea Police Department for any follow-up investigation."

Police were at the U-Store-It facility off North Illinois Street, with crime scene tape and a tarp covering one of the storage units Wednesday morning. The storage facility is south of the MetroLink overpass and across the street from the old Dairy Queen.

 

Major Case Squad activated in Swansea after body found

News-Democrat

The body of a 42-year-old man was found Tuesday at a storage facility in the 1400 block of North Illinois in Swansea, and the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has been called in to help with the investigation.

Major Case Squad Deputy Commander Major Jeff Connor said the man had been reported as missing for several weeks, which is why the Swansea Police Department called in the Major Case Squad.

An autopsy was being performed Wednesday morning to determine cause of death. Connor declined to comment on the condition of the body or who found it.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated to investigate the death of a man found at the U-Store-It storage facility on North Illinois Street next to the MetroLink overpass and across from the former Dairy Queen in Swansea. - Steve Nagy/BND

"Once the autopsy is completed we'll know more," Connor said. "We still haven't jumped to the conclusion that it was a homicidal death. It may take an angle that we'll pull out of here right away, or, it may be that we are here for a while. We're waiting on the autopsy to make that determination."

Police were at the U-Store-It facility off North Illinois Street, with crime scene tape and a tarp covering one of the storage units. The storage facility is south of the MetroLink overpass and across the street from the old Dairy Queen.

The Major Case Squad has set up its command center in Swansea and is asking anyone with information pertaining to the case to call the center at 234-5711.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/04/27/1686264/major-case-squad-activated-in.html#ixzz1Kk770wMl