Tony Conley
An Estill County teenager died Friday night in what police called a ‘freak accident’ which occured just hours after school let out for the summer.
He was strangled to death by a dog lead he had put around his neck while playing at a friend’s home on Geneva Avenue in Irvine. Tony Conley, 16, would have been a sophomore at Estill County High School in the fall.
Irvine Police Department Chief Brad Smith said the call for assistance came in at around 8:50 Friday night.
“We have no reason to suspect that this was anything but a complete accident,” he said. “The body was sent to Frankfort for an autopsy and we heard back that it was also ruled an accident.”
Conley had been playing at his friends’ house with other young boys from the neighborhood.
Estill County Coroner Tony Murphy said the boys were playing basketball when Conley, who has
been described by friends as a jokester, snapped the dog lead around his neck. Murphy said Conley jumped off the deck to which the lead was attached.
Officials believe the boy thought he could catch his footing when he jumped off. But, instead, the cable tightened around his neck.
His friends told police they attempted to cut the cable off and lift Conley to relieve the weight of his body from the cable. But, their efforts couldn’t stop the cable from tightening.
The coroner ruled the cause of death as an accidental strangulation.
Conley played football at ECHS and friends said he was looking forward to starting the new season. The local football boosters have raised thousands of dollars to help his family with funeral costs.
There will be a visitation service on the Estill County High School football field from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22. Another visitation will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, with his funeral services to follow. Donations can be made in honor of Tony to the Estill County High School Football boosters.