[JAN. 24, 2006]
A decision on what to do with
the remains of a man who died in an accident late last year has
fallen to Logan County Coroner Bob Thomas. Thomas reported to the
committee that oversees the coroner's department that the family of
Eric Fouts would not claim his remains after the accident.
Fouts died when the truck he was driving left the
road and crashed on Dec. 17. He had turned onto a county road and
shut the lights off, trying to elude police.
He was suspected of beating his grandfather David Fouts to death
and stealing his grandfather's truck on Dec. 16, then robbing a gas
station in Pekin at knifepoint on Dec. 17.
The accident occurred seven-tenths of a mile into Logan County,
placing the burden of responsibility on Thomas.
Circumstances of the death required that an autopsy be performed.
Fouts
' body was sent to Memorial in
Springfield and then was cremated.
Chris and Lesleigh Bennett of Bennett and Holland and Barry
funeral homes have offered to bury the remains. They have purchased
a plot to bury some ashes that were left in the basement of the
Holland and Barry Funeral Home when it was purchased. They offered
to bury Mr. Fouts there also.
Thomas said that he will hold on to the remains for six months in
case the family changes their minds and would like to claim them.
The ashes are in a sealed container.
Autopsy results confirmed that Fouts died of blunt-force trauma
to the head. A coroner's inquest is scheduled for Wednesday at 6
p.m. A jury will hear the events from witnesses, review the autopsy
and toxicology reports, and determine the cause of death.
The county will absorb the costs of the death, which include:
