NJ teen climbed into dumpster, compressed into garbage truck

A 19-year-old drummer from Ocean County who was reported missing early Saturday in Pennsylvania was found dead several hours later at a recycling facility after he got into a garbage container.

Kellen J. Bischoff, 19, left a house party attended by Kutztown University students early Saturday but never returned and was reported missing to police.

Investigators said Bishoff first stopped at a relative's home in Kutztown.

Video obtained by police shows Bishoff, who was alone, climbing into a dumpster behind a Dollar General store, Berks County District Attorney John Adams said. Several hours later a truck is seen emptying and compressing the contents of the dumpster.

Bishoff's body was found when the truck was emptied at the end of the truck's route.

Investigators used the description of unique tattoos on his body to make an initial identification.

An autopsy determined there was no foul play involved in Bishoff's death and appears to be accidental. The investigation is ongoing and toxicology results are pending.

Wrestler from Southern Regional

Bishoff graduated with the Class of 2022 and was a member of the wrestling team.

He was a drummer in the band Hellfire, which set up a GoFundMe page to help his family with expenses.

"He was very dedicated and passionate about music and our band," the band said on the fundraising page.

Bishoff's death was one of three incidents around the Pennsylvania college during the weekend.

An 18-year-old man was shot off-campus at the Advantage Point apartment complex. On Sunday morning, a person with a gun was reported near the school's east entrance but is not believed by police to be connected to the Advantage Point incident.

"Our hearts continue to go out to everyone affected by these tragic events," the university said in a statement.

Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

How much does the average NJ home cost? Median prices by county

Everything is costing more these days — and housing is certainly no exception in New Jersey.

Data for 2023 from January through May, compiled by New Jersey Realtors, shows that homes hit the market and sell in two months or less, on average.

Median prices for single-family homes have reached $500,000 and above in nine counties.

Most counties have seen houses go for more than the list price this year, while the rest have been very close to asking — on average.

Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt

25 costliest hurricanes of all time

Although the full extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ian in the Southwest is still being realized, Ian is already being called one of the costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. Stacker took a look at NOAA data to extrapolate the costliest U.S. hurricanes of all time.

NJ 'perv' teachers, coaches busted in two-year span

There were a number of educators, coaches and private teachers facing criminal charges for sexual offenses around New Jersey, arrested between 2022 and 2023.

Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt

Source: NJ teen found dead: Climbed into dumpster, compressed into garbage truck

Filed Under: Ocean County, Stafford, Stafford Township

Categories: New Jersey News