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Results released in Minersville death

The Berks County Coroner’s office has released the preliminary autopsy results of the Minersville man who died Saturday.

Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner Deb Detweiler said as of now Joshua Fontanez-Rodriguez, 23, died of drowning and hypothermia.

A final ruling is pending toxicology and completed autopsy report, she said, which could take four to six weeks.

Fontanez-Rodriguez was pronounced dead 12:30 p.m. Saturday after he went over a fence and was found in the water of quarry in the 4100 block of the Fifth Street Highway in Muhlenberg Township.

Muhlenberg Township police said they were dispatched at 10:34 a.m. Friday to the Target store for a suspected shoplifter. They encountered Fontanez-Rodriguez who police said was the suspected retail theft suspect. He later ran from the store.

The Schuylkill Haven Dive Rescue & Recovery team and other rescue teams and the Muhlenberg Fire Department also responded in the search.

Butch Trout, dive captain with the Schuylkill Haven Dive Rescue & Recovery Team, said the man had cuts consistent with climbing over the fence.