Tod DiMinno was a 54-year-old father and the owner of the Harmony Emporium, a shop that sold locally produced artwork and crafts in Harmony, Pennsylvania. He was reported missing on September 30, 2022, after he was last seen two days earlier in Harmony. His body was found on October 8, 2022, in a car submerged in the Ohio River in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood on the North Shore. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office ruled his death a suicide by drowning on March 15, 2023, after a long investigation.
Contents
The Discovery of the Car and the Body
DiMinno’s car and body were discovered by a film crew from the YouTube show “Adventures with Purpose”, based in Oregon, who were searching for two other missing persons in the Ohio River. The show features a team of divers who use sonar and underwater cameras to locate and recover submerged vehicles and other objects. The film crew was assisted by the Chaos Divers, a volunteer group, and the Pittsburgh River Rescue, police and firefighters.
The car was found about 16 feet underwater and about 30 yards from the riverbank. It was one of over 100 submerged vehicles that the sonar scanning revealed in the section of the river that the crews searched. The body of DiMinno was inside the car, and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:43 p.m. on October 8, 2022, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The Autopsy and the Suicide Ruling
An autopsy was conducted on DiMinno’s body on October 10, 2022, but the cause and manner of his death remained pending for several months. The medical examiner’s office said that the investigation into DiMinno’s death was ongoing and that they were waiting for toxicology and other test results. On March 15, 2023, the medical examiner’s office finally released the report that said DiMinno drowned and that his death was a suicide.
The report did not provide any details on why DiMinno decided to end his life or how he drove his car into the river. It is not clear if he left any note or message for his family or friends. His family and friends described him as a caring and inspiring man who helped artists and crafters sell their works in his shop. He is survived by his parents and a 5-year-old daughter.
The Harmony Emporium and DiMinno’s Legacy
The Harmony Emporium was a shop that DiMinno owned and operated in Harmony, a small town in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The shop sold a variety of items made by local artists and crafters, such as wind chimes, paintings, necklaces, pendants, blown glass, candles, soap, photographs and more. DiMinno encouraged people to be themselves in making art and was very supportive of the creative community.
A longtime friend, Sierra Reynolds of Portersville, said that DiMinno did more for her than she could ever repay. She said that he sold her paintings and a guitar that she turned into a lamp in his shop. She said that he was very inspiring to be around and that he will be missed by many. She said that she went to the site where the car was pulled from the river to remember DiMinno and to pay her respects.
DiMinno’s death was a tragic loss for his family, friends and the Harmony community. He left behind a legacy of kindness, generosity and creativity that will not be forgotten.
