No cause yet for Bath teen’s death
BY JOHN ZICK THE LEADER

BATH — Bath Police are continuing to investigate the death of a 15-year-old high school freshman who died unexpectedly last week.

Bath Police Chief David Rouse said his department has conducted several interviews and is continuing its investigation, but a clear determination of what caused Michael Buffa to die awaits the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests.

“That’s something we have no control over,” Rouse said Friday, Dec. 15. “We’re at the mercy of the medical examiner’s office.”

Buffa died early Dec. 8 at Ira Davenport Hospital. According to police, Buffa’s family called for help around 7 a.m. The family lives at a Casey Lane residence.

Rouse said his department has interviewed many of Buffa’s friends and staff at Haverling High School, where Buffa attended class and played junior varsity football.

“We can’t wait, hypothetically, three to six months until the toxicology reports come back and then all of a sudden, we’re trying to get people to remember things,” Rouse said. “We follow up on what we can now.”

Rouse said it is too early to speculate on what caused the death, stating it could be anything from natural causes, to a drug reaction, to a number of other factors. He hasn’t ruled anything out.

“To speculate now wouldn’t be doing any justice to the victim or the family,” he said.