The New Castle community is grappling with a grim discovery after local police found the body of 51-year-old Brian Kenneth LeGault inside the abandoned UPMC Jameson South/St Francis Hospital building. Officers were dispatched to the former hospital located on 1000 S. Mercer Street following reports of a corpse around 11:44 a.m. Thursday. According to WPXI, law enforcement believes LeGault's death to be a homicide, but has not disclosed further details publicly.
New Castle Police Chief David Cumo stated, "Just this morning, we were contacted by the victim's wife. She had received a phone call saying that her estranged husband was dead inside that building, and wanted us to come down and check for him," as reported by WTAE. Cumo suggested the body hadn't been there more than about 12 hours and mentioned that "wounds found on the victim's body" are leading to the investigation of this case as a homicide.
LeGault was not only recognized by law enforcement but also by those who lived in proximity to him and the decrepit site. His neighbor, Jordan Wise, described him as a "pretty nice guy" and said, "Hearing he's gone really got me a little bit," in an interview obtained by WPXI. The article mentions that LeGault’s name still appears on the mailbox at his last known residence, though he is believed to have recently moved.
The former hospital building, no longer in service, has become a hotspot for illicit activities, with nearby residents expressing frustrations over people frequently trespassing to scavenge for copper or use drugs.
New Castle police, along with Lawrence County detectives, have urged the public to come forward with any information that may aid the ongoing investigation. People with knowledge about the case are encouraged to call 724-656-9300 or 911.
