Charles Joseph Nunnenman III dies in fatal Boardman car crash

Charles Joseph Nunnenman III dies in fatal Boardman car crash

Fatal Boardman car crash death of Charles Joseph Nunnenman III – Obituary

Charles Joseph Nunnenman III, 41, has been identified as the man who died after being struck by a vehicle in Boardman, Ohio, in a crash that occurred more than four decades ago, bringing long-awaited answers to his family.

Investigators confirmed that Nunnenman, originally from Waltham, Massachusetts, was killed just before midnight on Aug. 12, 1982. He was walking west along Western Reserve Road, near State Route 7, when he was hit by a car traveling in the same direction. The impact threw him more than 50 feet, causing fatal injuries.

At the time of the incident, Nunnenman’s identity could not be determined. He was buried as an unidentified individual at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown through a charity arrangement involving the coroner’s office, Fox Funeral Home, and the Diocese of Youngstown.

The case was reopened in May 2022 by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office. In July 2023, Nunnenman’s remains were exhumed so DNA evidence could be collected. That effort eventually led to a breakthrough when his niece, Natalie Bauerle of Florida, provided a DNA sample last fall. The sample confirmed Nunnenman’s identity, finally linking the remains to his family.

Bauerle said her mother, Nunnenman’s sister, had searched for answers about her brother’s disappearance for years before her death in 2020. She expressed relief that the mystery was resolved, even though her mother was not alive to witness the discovery.

According to the coroner’s report, Nunnenman died from shock and severe bleeding caused by multiple broken bones and possible internal injuries. Toxicology testing showed no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of death.

The vehicle involved was reportedly driven by an 18-year-old woman from Canfield. She told investigators she believed she may have struck something after hearing a noise while driving. Although she returned to the area with a friend and police initially searched, the body was not discovered until later. It remains unclear whether any charges were ever filed.

Records related to the crash were largely unavailable due to the Ohio State Highway Patrol purging files years earlier, which complicated the investigation. Multiple agencies and organizations assisted in identifying Nunnenman, including local law enforcement, the state crime lab, and nonprofit groups focused on solving unidentified person cases.

The identification brings closure to a case that remained unresolved for more than 40 years and provides long-overdue answers to a family that never stopped wondering what happened to their loved one.