ELYRIA TWP. — Authorities on Friday tentatively identified the decomposed body found in a field in Brownhelm Township this week as Johnathon Fernandez, a 19-year-old Florida man missing from his relatives’ Elyria Township home since Sept. 3.

The case has been ruled a homicide.

Sheriff’s Capt. John Reiber said the coroner is basing the identity on dental records, a tattoo of the Puerto Rican flag on the victim’s shoulder and clothing found with the body.

Reiber said the identification won’t be considered final until results of a DNA test are completed.

“We are continuing our investigation,” Reiber said. “There’s no further statement at this time so as not to jeopardize our investigation.”

Earlier, Reiber had said that detectives were led to the body via information collected during another investigation. Reiber wouldn’t elaborate as to what that other investigation pertained to.

Fernandez, a Florida resident, came to live with his aunt and uncle, Luis and Raquel Rosa of Antrim Road in Elyria Township, this past summer.

“He came to help us out for the summer,” Raquel Rosa said Friday. “He helped my husband out working. We own our own business.”

Rosa said investigators took DNA samples from family members on Wednesday. Rosa could not be reached for comment after the tentative
identification was made.

Earlier, the family shared stories about Fernandez, like his love of music.

“Dancing,” Raquel said with the hint of a smile in her voice. “He is interested in music and dancing. He’s always dancing. Whenever we go out for dinner, he is always the first one on the dance floor.”

Fernandez was also dedicated to his family.

“He loves his family, his 22 cousins,” Raquel said. “He is always happy and he’s a good influence on his cousins. He always likes to visit family. He likes to help people out whenever he can.”

The body was found in a field on a privately owned farm about a half-mile off North Ridge Road in Brownhelm Township. Officials aren’t releasing the exact address or the property owner’s name.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

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