Kaitlin Durbin

Reporter

UPPER SANDUSKY – Police are investigating the apparent suicide of Wyandot County Prosecutor Jonathan Miller over the weekend.

Miller's body was found in his car around 10:30 a.m. Sunday on the bike path south of Upper Sandusky Reservoir No. 2, Wyandot County Sheriff Michael Hetzel said. He did not comment on the manner of death.

The 57-year-old recently had been diagnosed with cancer and had undergone surgery, Hetzel said.

"(Miller) was very sincere, hardworking and family-oriented," Hetzel said.

Upper Sandusky police are handling the investigation, but have declined to provide more information until the conclusion of the investigation, their press release said.

A dispatcher Monday said Chief of Police David Olds and the detective who is handling the investigation were not available for comment.

Authorities were actively looking for Miller, who had been reported missing, when his car was spotted on the bike path, Hezel said. Hetzel, who was on scene, said there was nothing suspicious about the death.

Miller's body was sent to Lucas County Coroner's Office for an autopsy, Hetzel said.

Miller's term wasn't set to expire until 2016. He was elected to the position in 2012, having defeated Independent Mary Snyder with 57 percent of the vote, election results showed.

The process of shuffling the office in wake of his death will follow much like Richland County's after Prosecutor James Mayer Jr.'s suicide three weeks ago.

Wyandot County Assistant Prosecutor Doug Rowland was sworn in as interim prosecutor Monday afternoon, Commissioner William Clinger said.

The Republican Central Committee will appoint someone to fill Miller's term permanently.

Richland County acted quickly after Mayer shot himself in his home around 5:30 p.m. Sept 26. Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page was appointed to finish Mayer's term 13 days after his death.

Mayer's death also was suspected to be health-related. Couch Page said after Mayer's death that he had not been acting like himself and that she had suspected health issues as a cause.

"There was a possible medical issue because of different things I was seeing, but I can't confirm that," Couch Page previously said.

Mayer, 65, was elected prosecutor in 1988 and had held the office ever since. He and wife Melody Ann had three children.

kdurbin@nncogannett.com

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Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin