While the official cause and manner of Roger O’Lay’s death
Thursday are still pending toxicology results, the unattended death
investigation focusing on O’Lay has yielded an unrelated arrest of
a Bradford man who was a fugitive from justice.

Officer Shane Miller of the Bradford City Police Department said
Monday the investigation into the death of O’Lay, 59, of 378 E.
Main St., included an interview with one of O’Lay’s “friends,” Gary
Groom of 417 E. Main St.

Through the course of the investigation, police determined Groom
was wanted in Alabama for escaping from a half-way correctional
facility, he said.

Groom – who was arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Justice
Michael Kennedy in Kane Miller said – is currently incarcerated in
McKean County Jail in Smethport awaiting extradition to
Alabama.

Officials are stressing that Groom’s arrest is in no way related
to O’Lay’s death.

Regarding the O’Lay death investigation, however, Miller said
the police investigation has been completed. He said the official
who performed the autopsy -ðDr. Eric Vey in Erie – reported the
death was “accidental.”

McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill said Monday there will be no
official ruling on the cause or manner of O’Lay’s death, however,
until toxicology results are returned in about four to six
weeks.

Cahill explained that Vey can make recommendations regarding his
opinion on a likely cause or manner of death, but does not “rule”
on the death, per se. An official ruling includes a review of the
toxicology report, which is still pending.

The McKean County District Attorney’s office was also involved
in the O’Lay death investigation.