Coroner: Raceland teen died from aerosol

(AP) – The death of a local juvenile prison inmate was accidental and probably caused by inhaling an aerosol, authorities said.

Andy Naccio, 20, of Raceland, died Feb. 15 while working with a drill press in a welding class at the Jetson Center for Youth, according to a news release by the Office of Youth Development, which runs the facility.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office determined Naccio probably died from an irregular heartbeat caused by inhaling the aerosol. The coroner’s findings were inconclusive because none of the chemicals in the aerosol were found in Naccio’s body, the release said

“The coroner’s investigation noted that although several youths reported seeing the decedent inhale an aerosol used to lubricate the drill bit, the toxic chemicals in the lubricant were not detected in the toxicology study,” the news release said.

Naccio had been confined since he was 16 years old and was scheduled for release in March, said his mother, Barbara Naccio.

“Andy was an excellent example of a youth who had turned his life around and was about to embark on the road to a successful adulthood,” said Richard Thompson, the head of OYD. “We remain deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Andy Naccio.”