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Schuylkill coroner awaits toxicology in death of young mayor

Schuylkill County coroner David G. Moylan III said Saturday that an autopsy of the body of former Mt. Carbon Mayor Brandon M. Wentz confirmed pulmonary congestion. 

“We will do a full toxicology and microscopic, so we won’t have anything back for at least a couple of weeks,” Moylan said.

Wentz was pronounced dead at 7:58 a.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes.

Authorities have yet to release details surrounding Wentz’ death.

Moylan said the toxicology tests will be performed by NMS Labs, Willow Grove.

Wentz, who turned 23 on Sept. 6, was the tiny borough’s second-youngest mayor, having been appointed in February 2016 after the resignation of Jeffrey J. Dunkel, who had been elected mayor at 18 in November 2001.

He was found dead Thursday morning. An autopsy was performed on Friday evening.

Wentz’ mother, Janel Marie, told The Associated Press her son resigned the night before his death because he and the family had moved out of the borough.

Wentz’s grandmother was the first woman to be mayor of Mt. Carbon, and his mother served on council of the borough of 90 people.