Autopsy: Resident had heart attack

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Carlton Decker, an 85year- old Maplewood Manor resident who died early Saturday morning.

An autopsy conducted by a forensic pathologist Monday morning at Saratoga Hospital indicated that the cause of death was a heart attack, even though Decker’s cause of death was initially concluded to be a fall from the window in his second-story, private room, according to Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III.

Decker was located in an exterior courtyard by a door by nursing home staff, who were searching for him after they noticed his absence during a routine bed check at 1 a. m. He was transported to Saratoga Hos-

pital, where he later died.

Murphy said it was originally believed that Decker climbed out the window in his room and onto the roof of a first floor wing, but now other possibilities are being evaluated.

According to the district attorney, the window in Decker’s room should have only opened 6- 5/ 8 inches wide.

“We owe it to Mr. Carlton and his family to carefully examine how exactly how he got from his room to the courtyard. I suspect this and many more questions will be answered as we proceed,” Murphy said.

According to the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, the death was reported to the state Department of Health. Ballston Spa Police Department is currently investigating the case, which Murphy says will likely take about two weeks.

The district attorney said Decker’s toxicology report is expected within 90 days and the official written autopsy report is expected in four to six weeks.