PORT CLINTON - Although investigators are saying Harley Dilly's death was accidental, colleagues of Dilly's father say something did not seem right as the community was emotionally torn during the 23 days he was missing.

But reports obtained by the News Herald raise more questions about what led the 14-year-old Dilly to a vacant house at 507 Fulton St., and climb up a TV antenna and enter a chimney where he would eventually die from compressive asphyxiation.

A final autopsy report Dilly did not have alcohol or drugs in his system and his death was ruled accidental, according to a Port Clinton Police report.

It was a new beginning to the investigation that led authorities to the house on Fulton Street house, just 400 feet from Dilly's home where the teen's body was found Jan. 13 inside a chimney, according to an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation report obtained by the News Herald.

A state crime analysis was asked if she wanted to visit the area where the search for Dilly began. She said "yes."

When she asked if police searched the eventual home where they found Dilly, police said they had searched the exterior of the building, noting there did not appear to be signs of forced entry.

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Port Clinton Police Chief Rob Hickman said during a Jan. 14 press conference that police did not believe there was any foul play in Dilly's death.

But two co-workers of Harley's father Marcus said something did not seem right about how the family was acting during the 3½-week search after the teen was reported missing on Dec. 21.

Dillon McMurray, a colleague of Marcus, told investigators that Marcus was talking about the helicopters and large number of investigators looking for Harley as if he were "bragging" about the search for his son.

McMurray told police that Marcus was preparing for the worst and that he would contact his insurance company to exercise the life insurance policy he has for Harley.

The worker told agents Marcus told him he pays 58 cents per paycheck for the policy, but did not specify how much it was worth, the report said.

Micahel Mowel, another co-worker of Marcus, told BCI that Marcus told him around Dec. 27 that he did not believe Harley was coming back home.

Mowel said Marcus appeared "emotionless" when they spoke and said Marcus told him he needed to get back to work.

The man said his "gut dropped" when Marcus told him about the life insurance policy that he had on his children.

Marcus told Port Clinton Police that his wife set up the policy that activated in April 2017, according to a Port Clinton Police report.

While at the Dilly house, the worker said the teen's mother, Heather, displayed no emotion and said he felt Heather was "acting" when he heard her talking about Harley's disappearance.

The News Herald was unable to reach Heather Dilly for comment.

When police made it into the 507 Fulton St. home, they found Dilly's jacket, still zipped and inside-out on the floor of the second story bedroom floor.

A Cleveland Browns Baker Mayfield jersey and a red zip-up sweatshirt beneath that was found on the floor near the south wall of the bedroom near the location of the coat, the report said.

No blood was observed on any of the clothing, though a rust colored substance was observed on the clothing, according to the report.

A vent plate cover was found two feet from the pile of clothing, with a hole in the wall matching the vent size six feet above the pile of clothes, meaning Dilly may have taken his clothes off and pushed them through the hole.

A corresponding vent hole was located on the wall in the storage room on the opposite side, where police found Dilly's glasses on the floor.

Investigators attempted to use a camera to see inside the tight space during their search for Dilly but were unable to get a high quality image.

Investigators then reached into the hole and located Dilly's body.

Dilly's head was positioned toward the roof, and his feet toward the floor. He appearedg to be standing on the floor of the chimney with his knees slightly bent, the report said.

His body was facing south, both arms were bent at the elbows and both elbows were up near his head.

The right arm was bent with his hand near his back, his left arm bent with his hand near his chest.

He was wearing only a pair of boxer briefs when investigators found him, the report said.

A layer of dust and debris covered his entire body that was in an advanced stage of decomposition, the report said.

When agents removed bricks from the chimney area, they smelled odors consistent with decomposition, the report said.

A pair of dark-colored sweatpants, slip-on shoes, a blue flashlight, one white sock and one black sock were located on the chimney's floor, the report said.

The report said Dilly entered from the roof of the home, as there was no sign of forced entry.

"It's likely that the clothing was pushed out from the chimney into the bedroom living spaces through the vent openings as the victim attempted to created additional space inside the chimney to breathe," the report said.

Dilly was reported missing Dec. 21 when he did not come home from school Dec. 20.

Pat Adkins, Port Clinton City Schools Superintendent, said Dilly never made it to school Dec. 20 and said his parents did not call Dilly in sick.

Adkins said it is district policy that when a student is not reported absent by a parent or guardian that they attempt to contact the parents.

A call to the Dilly's was not answered and Adkins said the phone number had a full voicemail box.

Heather Dilly spoke to BCI agents Dec. 26 about her son's disappearance.

She said it was "not like him" to be missing for long periods of time, describing Harley as a "momma's boy through and through."

Harley bathed several times a day and his parents told police that even if he stayed at a friends house, he would come home to bathe.

Marcus Dilly reported Harley missing around 11:50 p.m. Dec. 21.

Heather said on Dec. 19 she and Harley visited her niece, discussing a Sunday get together with family that Harley said he would be attending, because he would get presents.

Heather told investigators that Harley would be able to play video games after losing his gaming system due to a previous incident in which Heather said Harley physically "attacked" his father.

Marcus said Harley jumped on his back and began punching him and then kicking him in the privates when he took his gaming system away, the report said.

Harley was an avid gamer, and active on social media, streaming his game play.

While speaking to investigators, Heather said Harley would go to a friend's home and complain he was not being fed or cared for properly at home to get certain food from the friends.

Heather said she Marcus had been trying to get Harley to eat other foods besides chicken, pizza and hot fries.

When questioned about Harley's behavior, Heather said Harley was charged with assault for slapping a student at school and was suspended in late 2019 for kicking a student in the testicles. She told investigators Harley was put on a behavior plan in lieu of charges.

The week of his disappearance seemed normal to Heather, saying Harley was not short with her, though he did say he did not want to go to school Dec. 20.

"Heather remembered telling him to 'get his ass to school because it was his last day,'" the report said.

The report said the family became concerned when they arrived home Saturday and Harley had not come home. She told agents things "became real" after that and she believed Harley did not run away.

Heather said that there were times she felt like she had not been there much for Harley, but he would still cuddle up with her and share personal time together, saying she was trying to do more with Harley, like going to movies or involving him in her leggings business.

Harley may have begun acting out against others because of past bullying, Heather told agents.

A classmate interviewed by BCI told agents Dilly was not being bullied at school and said Dilly had finished second in the race for class president with the slogan "Don't be silly, vote for Dilly."

She said her daughter has run away from their home before, saying she was found in three days hiding in an attic, the report said.

When asked about why she did not have Harley check in with her if he went places, Heather said she tried to make him check in with her, but he did not always do it. She had a family tracking application to trace his whereabouts, but she said Harley would often shut his phone off.

"Maybe I'm a bad person, but he is 14-years-old, always came home, is not incompetent, gets great grades (or at least did) and is a good kid," she told agents.

She said she did not believe any of his friends would be hiding Harley and said she warned Harley about staying away from a neighbor, described as a male in his 60s.

When questioned by BCI agents, Marcus said his relationship with Harley has always been strained.

"We know each other and there's a relationship there. He knows I'm his dad and he's my son," but the relationship is "rocky," Marcus told investigators.

"Marcus said on Saturday morning, he and Heather found it odd that Harley was not home around 11 a.m.," the report said.

Harley would often return home around 11 a.m. to eat and take a bath before leaving again.

Dilly was always smiling and nice towards LillieRolen, a classmate of Dilly's.

Rolen told the News Herald in January that Dilly was encouraging and kind to her.

Dilly's legacy will live on through a scholarship fund in his honor.

To some, they may have interacted with him indirectly, as Dilly was often known to drop pennies around town for people to pick up.

"He had a very giving heart and became very brave. He hated to make mistakes and was inspired to become a counselor or a leader in the future," his obituary said.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: @CraigShoupNH