John Cashman Death Investigation April 2022

OFFICE OF THE
COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG

MONUMENT TERRACE BUILDING
901 CHURCH STREET
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24504
(434) 455-3760
FAX (434) 846-5038
WWW.OCALYNCHBURG.COM
BETHANY A. S. HARRISON E-MAIL ADDRESS

[email protected]
Commonwealth’s Attorney
October 6, 2022
Re: John Cashman April 2022 Death Investigation
After reviewing the reports, video footage, crime scene reports and photos, John Cashman’s
medical records, and materials provided by Cashman’s family members, I have concluded there is
insufficient evidence to support charging anyone with a criminal offense related to Cashman’s
death.
On April 19, 2022, John Cashman’s mother called police for a welfare check on her son as she had
not heard from him in several days. When Lynchburg Police Department officers arrived at
Cashman’s apartment at 1415 Kemper St. Lynchburg, VA, they found Mr. Cashman on the floor
deceased. A large amount of blood was in the bathroom, hallway, and main living area of the
apartment. Blood was on the walls, bathroom sink, on the floor, and on Mr. Cashman. When Mr.
Cashman’s mother was notified of his death, she indicated that Cashman had pre-existing medical
conditions. An investigator with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) was contacted,
the condition of Cashman and surrounding circumstances as known to the police at that time were
conveyed to the investigator with OCME. The investigator declined to conduct an autopsy and
gave permission to move the body. A local medical examiner conducted a viewing of the body
and noted no trauma to the body was found.
Lynchburg Police Department officers investigated the death. A private security camera was in the
hallway of Cashman’s apartment with Cashman’s front door in its view. Review of that footage
showed a man later identified as Steven Church come and go from the apartment in the days
leading up to Cashman’s death. From the footage and surrounding events, it was concluded that
Cashman died on April 14, 2022. Based on the time stamps from the private surveillance footage,
on that date at 1 p.m. Cashman left the upstairs apartment with a bookbag, a full trash bag, and an
open drink container with fluid inside. Cashman returned around 3:03 p.m. without the trash bag
but with the bookbag and an empty drink container. At 3:40 p.m. yelling can be heard coming
from the closed door of Cashman’s apartment. From what I could hear, one male voice yelled
“What the f--- are you doing?” a pause then “Yo, what the f--- dude?” a pause then another male
voice is heard stating “What are you doing man?” At 3:11 p.m. Church left the apartment and
headed down the stairs. He stopped midway down then returned to the apartment door and wiped
the doorhandle before leaving. At 3:12 p.m. 3 cries for help came from a male voice from
Cashman’s apartment. The the only other sounds were thuds and/or scraping sounds before the
video ended at 3:17 p.m.
Steven Church was located and interviewed on May 23, 2022 in Nashville, TN. Steven said he
came to Lynchburg for work but the job fell through. He had no money so he asked people he
encountered for a place to stay. Cashman allowed Church to stay with him. He stayed with
Cashman for about 3 days before leaving. One day Cashman came in and yelled at him for not
paying rent and for going through Cashman’s clothes. He described Cashman as drunk and that
Cashman drank all day most days. Church said he had two aggravated burglaries on his record
and he did not want any more trouble so he left. Church was asked about the statements that can
be heard on the surveillance of “dude what the f--- stop.” Church said that is when Cashman yelled
at him for going through the clothes. They did not physically fight. Church said when he left
Cashman was fine other than being drunk and incoherent. Cashman was in the bathroom in what
Church assumed was a position as if he were about to vomit because Cashman had been drinking
all day and he had seen Cashman get sick in similar circumstances.
Church was shown the video of himself wiping the apartment door handle. Church said he did that
because of the aggravated burglaries on his record. Church did not want to be accused of squatting
at the apartment. Church said he left and did not hear Cashman call for help. Church was shown
photographs of the blood in the apartment and appeared shocked. Photographs were taken of
Church’s shoes including the tread pattern on the bottom. The detectives confirmed with Nashville
law enforcement that there were no warrants for Church’s arrest.
A crime scene detective photographed the apartment, photographed John Cashman, and collected
evidence from the scene. Witnesses were interviewed, the video surveillance was collected,
Cashman’s cell phone was collected and data extracted, Cashman’s medical records were obtained,
and a forensic crime scene expert was consulted. There were some tread patterns from a shoe in
the blood on the scene that matched to Cashman’s shoes. The pattern did not match Church’s
shoes.
The crime scene expert reviewed the photos of the apartment and scene documentation. In his
opinion the blood pattern, amount of blood, locations of the blood in the apartment and on the
deceased were consistent with a gastro-intestinal bleed.
The medical records show a medical history, risk factors, and medications prescribed to Cashman
that are consistent with a cause of death from a fatal medical event.
Given the pattern of blood loss by Cashman, that there were no other shoe patterns in the blood
other than his own, that his medical history and current prescriptions and risk factors were
consistent with his death resulting from a fatal medical event, no evidence of external trauma to
his body, and that Cashman’s body was cremated preventing law enforcement from examining his
body further, there is insufficient evidence to bring any criminal charges against Steven Church
for the death of John Cashman.
It is regretful that Mr. Cashman died in such a manner and that his family had to witness the
shocking scene. I hope the conclusion of this investigation can give some form of closure to the
family as they continue to mourn the loss of their loved one.
Sincerely,
Bethany Harrison

John Cashman Death Investigation April 2022

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OFFICE OF THE

COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG

BETHANY A. S. HARRISON E-MAIL ADDRESS

Re: John Cashman April 2022 Death Investigation

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