Police investigating death of farmer
By Chronicle Staff
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office are investigating the death of a Leland man who was found Tuesday morning laying beside a piece of farm machinery in rural DeKalb County.
Kenneth C. Chiavario, 60, was checking his semitrailer while it was being loaded with soybeans at a grain bin in the 9200 block of Wesson Road, which is between Leland and Kane roads in southern DeKalb County, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Lt. Van Bomar of the sheriff's office said it appears that Chiavario was doing an inspection on the vehicle and had climbed a ladder attached to the equipment. Chiavario may have slipped or fallen from the ladder, Bomar said.
Others at the grain bin found Chiavario on the ground and called authorities. He was pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday. Chiavario lived on the 1600 block of Leland Road in Leland, according to the sheriff's office.
DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said it was unclear Tuesday if Chiavario slipped or fell off the truck. Miller said he would know more about the cause of death after he performed an autopsy today. Foul play is not suspected, according to a news release from Miller's office, and the investigation into the death is ongoing.
