Family grieves loss of son

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by two children in a field about 1,000 feet west of the W. 98th St. Regional Transit Authority rapid stop. Authorities have been unable to determine how the boy died because of deterioration of the body.

After studying the skeleton with an anthropologist, Dr. Lester Adleson, chief deputy coroner, ruled the boy died of undetermined causes. Cleveland homicide detective James J. Svekirc, who worked on the case with detective James Bistricky, said he would investigate any new information, but said the investigation is at a dead end.

Detectives cannot explain why the boy was found in a field which was not on his normal route home from work. Police found two homosexual magazines and a mattress near the body. Detectives said they have not determined if they are linked to the boy's death.

Metcalf said foul play may have been involved in his son's death, but he is not bitter toward the persons who may be responsible.

"It would be easy for me to be bitter and condemn the people who did it,” he said. "But whoever did it is sick. I feel sorry for them. They had to be sick to take away my son this way."

Metcalf has seven other children, ages 7 to 26. He said the family misses the youngster,, who often shoveled snow for elderly neighbors without pay, helped them carry groceries, enjoyed hikes and trips as a Boy Scout, often teased his brothers and sisters and asked his parents many probing questions.

Timothy would have been an 8th grader this fall at Wilbur Wright. Junior High School.

His mother, Nadine S., 48, said her daughter, Laura, 16, is upset about her brother's death because she worked at the school and often walked the 10 blocks home with Timothy. The day he disappeared, she left work three hours before him.

As her eyes reddened and her voice grew faint, Mrs. Metcalf said her daughter, Cherie, 7, often asks, "My brother is gone to heaven... hasn't he?""