AJ Fresch found dead inside home

ouriel@sanduskyregister.comSANDUSKYAfter tirelessly searching for days, friends and family members received the devastating news of Albert "AJ" Fresch's whereabouts Sunday.Fresch, last seen on Jan. 9, was found dead inside his Columbus Avenue home near West Madison Street in Sandusky.Authorities told the Register Fresch, 29, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.The Register does not typically report on suicides occurring in the privacy of a home. But due to community concern and the extensive search for Fresch, the news organization opted to cover this incident.How do I approach someone about his or her mental well-being?At about 4 p.m. Sunday, Sandusky police detectives barricaded off his home in yellow police tape as they launched a full-scale investigation into his death, snapping pictures and collecting other pieces of evidence.As officers inspected the house, 10 or so relatives and friends stood nearby, sobbing and agonizing over his death.On social media posts reporting his death, several readers asked why officers didn't look through Fresch's home in past days to find him."We did," Sandusky police Detective Dana Newell said in response to those comments. "Patrol (officers) searched the house three times. The area where (Fresch) was located was a very difficult spot to get to. When we located him (Sunday), it took us about an hour and a half to get to him."Newell also dismissed any notion of foul play."We do not have any indication this was a crime," Newell said. The detective also said a family member tipped police off on Sunday about where Fresch was located inside the home.It's unclear exactly when Fresch shot himself.Erie County coroner Brian Baxter said Fresch's body will undergo an autopsy on Tuesday in Lucas County. The office is closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day."We don't know all the details at this point in time," Baxter said. "We have to look at the issues (and) do an investigation. We could have preliminary information by Wednesday."On the Facebook page Help Us Find AJ Fresch, a group with more than 5,300 supporters, the following was posted Sunday evening:"To everyone who has been praying for AJ and our family during the past week, we just want to thank you all for your support. As you probably know by now, we have found AJ, and he is no longer with us on this Earth. He is now our favorite angel in Heaven. Please continue to pray for our family, and please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of a wonderful son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson, and friend. He touched many many lives, and we are happy that we knew him for the 29 years that we did."Register photo / ANDY OURIEL Sandusky police detectives stand just outside the home of AJ Fresch. Detectives said Fresch died in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.