oh silly Syracuse and your high murder rate
Teen found dead in Thornden Park
Syracuse police are investigating the death of a teenage boy whose body was found Friday morning in Thornden Park.
Darnell McMullen's body was found by a woman walking her dog just before 10 a.m. on what would have been his 17th birthday. McMullen's last known address is 4314 Wetzel Road, in the town of Clay, police said.
"At this point, we're treating it as a possible homicide," said Lt. Joe Cecile, police department spokesman.
Evidence found at the scene and information investigators uncovered have led detectives to believe the death was not accidental, he said.
McMullen's body was found in a ravine on the Madison Street end of the park, Cecile said.
First Deputy Police Chief Gary Miguel said the body had "suffered trauma," but would not detail injuries.
Police identified McMullen through fingerprints police took when he was previously arrested on misdemeanor charges.
It was still unclear whether McMullen died at the park or was killed somewhere else and his body left at the park later, Cecile said.
"The medical examiners are trying to determine how long he'd been there and what happened," said Cecile.
No cars were discovered near the scene, he said.
Investigators cordoned off a large section of that end of the park Friday, checking for footprints in the snow and other clues that might yield information about what happened.
About 2 feet of snow covered the area where McMullen was found, Cecile said.
This is a picture of a run that took place in the park a few years ago. The building to the right in the picture is Dellplain, where Chris Leone lives. That is how close the park is to the University. Safe, right?
Syracuse police are investigating the death of a teenage boy whose body was found Friday morning in Thornden Park.
Darnell McMullen's body was found by a woman walking her dog just before 10 a.m. on what would have been his 17th birthday. McMullen's last known address is 4314 Wetzel Road, in the town of Clay, police said.
"At this point, we're treating it as a possible homicide," said Lt. Joe Cecile, police department spokesman.
Evidence found at the scene and information investigators uncovered have led detectives to believe the death was not accidental, he said.
McMullen's body was found in a ravine on the Madison Street end of the park, Cecile said.
First Deputy Police Chief Gary Miguel said the body had "suffered trauma," but would not detail injuries.
Police identified McMullen through fingerprints police took when he was previously arrested on misdemeanor charges.
It was still unclear whether McMullen died at the park or was killed somewhere else and his body left at the park later, Cecile said.
"The medical examiners are trying to determine how long he'd been there and what happened," said Cecile.
No cars were discovered near the scene, he said.
Investigators cordoned off a large section of that end of the park Friday, checking for footprints in the snow and other clues that might yield information about what happened.
About 2 feet of snow covered the area where McMullen was found, Cecile said.
This is a picture of a run that took place in the park a few years ago. The building to the right in the picture is Dellplain, where Chris Leone lives. That is how close the park is to the University. Safe, right?