Coroner reveals new information on death of Hoeniges

Posted on May 27, 2015
John Hoeniges. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
John Hoeniges died in an elevator accident at the McLean County Law and Justice Center Tuesday morning. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County coroner said the man, who died in an elevator shaft at the McLean County Law and Justice Center Tuesday, could have been retrieving an item a visitor dropped.

Kathleen Davis said preliminary reports indicated a visitor told a county administrator they dropped something in the elevator shaft and it’s possible John Hoeniges was trying to retrieve the item when he fell. However, Davis said that’s purely speculation at this point

An autopsy on Hoeniges was conducted Wednesday morning and Davis said the death was caused by chest compression.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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