Sara Nealeigh

Reporter

CHILLICOTHE - The death of a man whose body was found in Colerain Township in December has been ruled a suicide by the Ross County coroner.

According to coroner's reports, Nicholas Fogg died of asphyxiation from a plastic bag over his head. Since there was no other DNA evidence nor any materials that did not belong to Fogg at the scene, Coroner Dr. John Gabis made the official ruling March 11.

Fogg, 34, was last seen two days after an alleged argument with his girlfriend, but the date of that incident was not provided in the coroner's report. Fogg also, according to the report, had a history of suicidal thoughts.

His body was found in a ravine Dec.17 by a man who was walking through the wooded property near Ohio 327 and Bull Creek Road. The report revealed three plastic bags were taped around his head, and his hands were zip-tied together around a small tree behind his back. Fogg's body was identified through fingerprints.

His wrists showed pressure marks that corresponded with the zip ties, but Gabis found no evidence of a struggle or that anyone else had bound him.

Despite the chilly weather around that time, he was dressed in just a sweatshirt and jeans. Toxicology reports found cocaine in his system.

Gabis said the body was likely outside for nearly a month, placing Fogg's death "on or about" Nov. 19.

Video evidence showed Fogg's truck in a church parking lot near where his body was found, Gabis said.

It is unknown why Fogg, who was from London, Ohio, was in Ross County.