New Jersey officials announced that a Manahawkin teen, who played in a heavy metal band, was found dead at a trash recycling facility on Saturday, November 12, Fox News reported.
Workers found a body, later identified as 19-year-old Kellen Bischoff at Total Recycling Facility in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, at about 8:30 a.m. According to the Berks County District Attorney, his body was discovered among crushed cans and bottles that were dumped by a trash hauler.
According to the release, an autopsy performed on Bischoff two days later revealed that his injuries were consistent with having been dumped into the trash truck and later compressed by it.
Bischoff was visiting a relative in Kutztown in Berks County
According to the New York Post, Bischoff, who was a drummer in a local band called Hellfire, had been visiting his relative in Kutztown, in Berks County. The local DA's office said that the teen musician had been reported as missing to the Kutztown Police Department.
Bischoff was last seen early Saturday, November 12, after leaving an off-campus party near Kutztown University. Surveillance footage captured Bischoff climbing into the dumpster in the back of a Dollar Tree on Constitution Boulevard. He was walking alone at that time. The contents were then deposited a few hours later into the recycling truck, where Bischoff met his gruesome death.
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Cops identified teen drummer's body by his tattoos
The Daily Voice reported that local police managed to identify Bischoff by his tattoos. An autopsy conducted on Monday determined Bischoff's cause of death. Authorities found no unexplained injuries or signs of foul play on Bischoff's body. A toxicology report on the victim is pending results.
The news release said that footage of the incident showed a trash hauler arriving hours later and emptying the dumpster into the rear of his truck. The truck then compressed the contents, including the remains of Bischoff. The dead body of the teen was then transported to the recycling facility.
The victim, who hailed from a town known as the gateway to the Jersey Shore, is survived by his sister and parents. Bischoff's bandmates launched a GoFundMe page to help his family with the teen's funeral expenses.
Julian Contreras, who organized the fundraiser, opened his statement by introducing himself and his bandmates Alex Rietmann, Nick Anastasatos, and Estrella Vasquez Morales. Contreras said that Kellen was the drummer in their band Hellfire and was a dear friend to all of them.
He said that Bischoff was very dedicated and passionate about music and their band. He added that due to his unfortunate and tragic passing, they have set up this go fund me to help the Bischoff family for any expenses such as the funeral. A total of $175 has been raised thus far.
