Waynesburg student’s death not suspicious, says university
WAYNESBURG 鈥� The death of a Waynesburg student found dead in his dorm room Sunday morning was not suspicious, according to a statement released by university officials.
Bradley Grinnen, 21, of Ellwood City was pronounced dead at 11:22 a.m. Sunday by the Greene County Coroner鈥檚 office.
Waynesburg Borough police Chief Robert Toth said Monday his department was notified by the university at around 10:30 a.m. and that the incident poses 鈥渘o threat to public safety.鈥�
Toth also commended the university for their cooperation in the police investigation.
Through a written statement, Ashley Wise, university director of relations, stated that the university is 鈥渃ooperating fully with the authorities, who are investigating the situation. We have been assured that it is not a suspicious death, and there is no perceived threat to the public.鈥�
A statement release Sunday stated that the university 鈥渨as not providing any interviews or additional media statements at this time.鈥� The statement also stated that counselors were available all day Sunday 鈥渁nd would continue to be available going forward.鈥�
A private prayer service was held for Grinnen during the university鈥檚 regularly-scheduled Upper Room student worship service Sunday evening.
Grinnen, a junior defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets football team, earned first-team honors in the Presidents鈥� Athletic Conference in 2016. He led the team with 48 tackles last year. He also made eight sacks during the year for a total loss of 41 yards, and four sacks in one game against the Muskingum University Fighting Muskies of New Concord, Ohio, according to the university鈥檚 statistics page.
An autopsy was performed Monday, according to the Greene County Coroner鈥檚 office. Updated information regarding the autopsy was not made available to the Greene County Messenger by press time.
Following the reports of Grinnen鈥檚 death, his former trainer said Grinnen was a person others looked up to, even if he didn鈥檛 realize it.
Grinnen was 鈥渁 great kid鈥� and 鈥渁 mature leader,鈥� said Ali Herr, one of his athletic trainers at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City.
鈥淭he other kids wanted to be Brad and looked up to him, even more than Brad knew,鈥� she said.
She described Grinnen as a tenacious athlete who refused to let injuries slow him down.
鈥淲hen he would injure something, he wouldn鈥檛 dare come to me for assistance or advice. He was going to play the game or fight the match no matter what I said,鈥� she said.