Man's death ruled homicide in Lawrence County

SLIPPERY ROCK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - The death of a man who was found next to a vehicle in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County was ruled a homicide. 

Police said a passerby on Young Road stopped to help a man he thought was having car problems around 4 p.m. Thursday. He found 40-year-old Joseph Detello from Meadville unresponsive on the ground. 

The passerby called 911 and performed CPR while two other people who were bicycling in the area also stopped to help until police and medics arrived and pronounced Detello dead.

Police later confirmed Detello's death was ruled a homicide. The cause of death is asphyxiation. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Pennsylvania State Police New Castle's criminal investigations unit at 724-598-2211.