The victim was found heavily clothed suggesting he left early in the morning. Having completed his rounds, the victim drove the 1970 Ford tractor back down the hill toward his house. In order to keep the tractor from going too fast down the hill, it was the victim's habit to put the engine in first gear, turn the engine off and roll down the hill slowly, using the gears to hold back the unit. About 100 feet from the top of the hill the victim stopped the tractor and apparently got off. It is not known why he got off the tractor.
Evidence suggests the tractor then began to roll.
The victim was pushed down by the tractor and it rolled onto him. Because the incident was not witnessed, the sequence of events is inferred. The victim was found by his son 64 hours later supine between the front wheels under the axle and brush guard. His right femur was angled across his chest and the axle rested on the anterior aspect of his tibia. The victim's son called EMS who then contacted the county coroner.