Monsey, NY - Suspicious Death Likely to Remain Unknown

Monsey, NY - Ramapo police probably will never know exactly what killed Leon Stettiner, whose body was found face-down in his yard near his wrecked van, as was reported at that time on VOS IZ NEIAS.

Officially, the death is considered an accident, although police think the 57-year-old Monsey man died from a medical condition.
No autopsy was performed because of Stettiner's religious beliefs. "There's no way to 100 percent determine his cause of death," said Ramapo police Sgt. Mark A. Emma. "He did have some medical condition. There were a lot of pills (in his home). The case is closed. It's an accidental death."

Stettiner was last seen at 5 p.m. Wednesday. He was found lying dead in his yard about noon Thursday by members of Chevra Hatzoloh of Rockland County ambulance service.
Emma said it appeared that Stettiner had entered his 1989 Dodge Caravan and began backing it out of the driveway, then put it into forward and drove off the paved area and into a nearby scrub area, where it hit a tree.
Stettiner, who apparently was not wearing a seat belt, slammed into the steering wheel - his chest was bruised where he hit, Emma said - then got out of the van and walked around to the back of the vehicle. He got about 30 feet away from the wreck before he apparently collapsed on the lawn.
Evidence at the scene showed that Stettiner was lying outside at least overnight before his body was discovered by Hatzoloh members.
Emma said Stettiner had a serious kidney condition, but did not know whether that had anything to do with the man's death. By the same token, it was impossible to tell whether the accident and injury to his chest killed him, or a combination of factors. There were no witnesses to the accident.