Mendon boy dies by hanging

A 12-year-old Mendon boy died at his home over the weekend, the victim of an apparent suicide by hanging, according to Mercer County Sheriff's Office reports.

Raymond Whetsel, 12, 204 W. Walnut St., was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

His stepfather, Rodney Adcock, reportedly went to investigate after spotting a light on inside the boy's bedroom. He found the body hanging from a clothing bar inside a doorless closet. Sheriff Jeff Grey indicated shoestrings had been used.

Adcock reportedly cut the boy down and called 911 saying he was "gone." Grey said the time of death has not been pinpointed but it appeared he had been dead for a period of time.     "There had been an argument Saturday night that resulted in Raymond being grounded," the sheriff added. He did not know what led up to the disagreement.

Grey confirmed deputies had been to the Adcock residence before but the visits had not been for anything major. No note was located, and deputies found no sign of foul play.

Mercer County Coroner Dr. Timothy Heinrichs was notified but did not respond to the scene. The body was released to Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys, where funeral arrangements are pending.

Whetsel was a sixth-grader at Parkway Local Schools, where counselors are on hand today for students who need help or want to talk about their friend.

"Our guidance counselors, the Educational Service Center staff and the school psychologist will be here all day," middle school Principal Steve Baumgartner told The Daily Standard. "Other schools have volunteered to send counselors but their services have not been needed at this point."

School officials have yet to learn about funeral arrangements with preliminary discussions underway about permitting classmates to attend. The school typically allows students as well as relatives of the deceased to miss classes in order to attend services.