Hogs eat farmer: Cause of man's death unclear

By Ricky Maranon, KCBY News Published: Jan 5, 2013 at 4:24 PM PDT
Hogs eat farmer: Cause of man's death unclear
Coos County District Attorney Paul Fraiser said Garner's hogs ate too much of his body for a forensics expert to determine what caused his death.

COQUILLE, Ore. -- The investigation over a Riverton farmer's bizarre death last October will continue in 2013.

The remains of Terry Vance Garner, 70, were found on his farm near the unincorporated town of Riverton between Bandon and Coquille. According to Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier, Garner's hogs ate too much of his body for a forensics expert to determine what caused his death at the scene of the accident.

His body was sent for further examination to a forensic anthropologist at the University of Oregon in an attempt to determine a cause.

Frasier said in October investigators will also work to rule out if Garner was the victim of foul play, and on Dec. 31, Frasier told KCBY that the investigation had not yet been completed.

"Due to the unusual circumstances," Frasier said in October, "the Sheriff's Office is investigating to determine if foul play may have resulted in the death of Mr. Garner."

Frasier hopes the expert from the UO can provide further insight into what led to Garner's death.

Right now the cause of death is listed as "undetermined," and Frasier has repeatedly told KCBY since the incident that he is not fully satisfied that Garner died of a health problem while in the process of feeding his animals.