Joseph Mraz Obituary, Death; – City police are currently awaiting toxicology results to shed light on the death of a Columbiana man that occurred last week. Officers responded to a dispatch call at 4:11 a.m. on March 26, arriving at a residence located in the 330 block of Edgewood Drive, where they discovered a deceased male.
The individual, identified as Joseph Mraz of 334 Edgewood Drive, was found by his female housemate, who subsequently contacted the authorities. Given the alleged drug-related history associated with the residence, a representative from the Columbiana County Drug Task Force was informed.
The female caller lived in the basement of the home where Mraz resided. She reported that she had found him the previous day in an upright position, unclothed, exhibiting slurred speech and unusual behavior.
After offering to summon an ambulance, which he refused, she assisted him in putting on the green shorts he was later found wearing. She then returned to her basement and, after several hours, went back upstairs to check on him, only to find him still in poor condition. She then contacted a relative and called dispatch for medical assistance.
During their investigation, police noted the presence of three prescription medications. They discovered bottles of olanzapine, typically used for anxiety; mirtazapine, commonly prescribed for insomnia and clinical depression; and topiramate, which is used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or migraines.
Of these, only the bottle of topiramate appeared to be mostly full. Wade Boley, an investigator with the Columbiana County Coroner’s office, confirmed on Thursday that no autopsy was performed on Mraz. However, toxicology tests were conducted, and results are anticipated within four to six weeks.
