A frantic cellphone search led to a heartbreaking discovery outside an Ohio drugstore last week. Andrew Strand, a 34-year-old father of two, was found dead inside a trash compactor behind a CVS store in Shaker Heights after his wife, Jaymie, reported him missing when he failed to return home from work.
Growing increasingly worried, Jaymie tracked his phone’s location to the store on Chagrin Boulevard, where he had been performing contract work earlier that day.
Police responded to the scene around 10 pm and searched the property. During that search, officers discovered Strand’s body inside the trash compactor at the rear of the building.
“The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation,” Shaker Heights Police Commander John Cole said. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. “We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.”
CVS said in a statement that it is cooperating fully with authorities as the investigation continues.
Strand, a mechanic who had recently launched his own company, is being remembered as a devoted husband and hands-on father.
A GoFundMe page created to support his family describes him as deeply involved in his children’s lives, coaching his son’s hockey and baseball teams and cheering on his daughter at dance and gymnastics events.
“He was recently starting his own company, which he was absolutely loving,” the fundraiser states. “Andy’s passing was sudden and unexpected, leaving his family in disarray.”
Friends described him as dependable and kind, someone who always showed up for others in times of need. Nearly USD 20,000 has been raised to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial support to his wife and children.
The investigation into his death remains ongoing.
