On a Tuesday in late October 2018, Scott S. A. Coby, a 75-year-old male, passed away on his family's property in the town of Keene, New York. An avid outdoorsman with a passion for shooting sports, he had been out hunting in an orchard on his land. When he did not return as expected, his wife, Francine, became concerned and went to look for him. She was unable to reach him by cellphone.
After checking his tree stand and not finding him, she scanned the field and saw a patch of blaze
orange on the ground. Upon approaching, she discovered her husband. Authorities were called to the scene around noon. An investigation involving state police and the state Department of Environmental Conservation police was conducted. The Essex County Coroner determined that the death was accidental and self-inflicted.
Investigators believe that as Mr. Coby was attempting to stand up from a seated position at the base of a tree, he used his rifle as a brace to help push himself up. This action caused the. 308 rifle to discharge into his chest. An autopsy later confirmed that a single gunshot wound was the cause of death. Based on the investigation and the autopsy report, his death was officially ruled an accident, and no arrests were made in connection with the incident.
