Man's death ruled an accident
By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
A Franklin County man who was found dead in his truck at the bottom of a pond near Phil Campbell likely died of natural causes, according to Franklin County coroner David Hester.
Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said his department received a call Friday at 8 p.m. that Thomas Stanley Spiller was missing from his home at 940 Shady Grove Road in Phil Campbell. He had been last seen driving toward Phil Campbell.
On Sunday afternoon, Spiller was discovered dead in his pickup truck at the bottom of a pond just off Franklin 237 close to Holly Springs Church near Phil Campbell. Spiller, who was 75 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene by Hester.
Investigators who worked the scene of the discovery said it appeared Spiller veered off the road, struck a tree and ran into the pond.
Hester said it was likely that a medical problem caused the accident.
Neighbors near the pond reported hearing a loud sound and dogs barking around noon on Friday.
On Sunday, the owner of the property noticed what appeared to be a radio antenna sticking up above the water of the pond, which was located in a remote area of the property. Also, a truck toolbox was noticed floating near the far bank of the pond.
At that point, the sheriff's department made the recovery of the truck and body, aided by members of the Phil Campbell rescue squad and the Phil Campbell fire department.
No foul play is suspected, and no autopsy has been ordered, Plott said. The death was ruled accidental.
According to Spiller's
obituary, he served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hillard D. and Fannie Jeanette Spiller; and a brother, Hollis Spiller.
Mr. Spiller is survived by two brothers, George Spiller of Phil Campbell and Stacy Spiller of Atlanta; and a sister, Jeanette Golson of Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Spiller's case was the second missing-person report handled in the county in less than a week. Last Thursday, a Phil Campbell man was reported missing and was found alive after an extensive search.
