A Brunswick, Ohio father of two was found dead inside a trash compactor at a CVS pharmacy after his wife tracked his cell phone to the store, authorities confirmed.
Andrew “Andy” Strand, 34, failed to return home from a contract job on the evening of Wednesday, February 4, prompting his wife Jaymie to raise the alarm. When she hadn’t heard from her husband for hours, she used a phone tracking tool to pinpoint his location to a CVS store on Chagrin Boulevard in Shaker Heights.
Jaymie called police just before 10 p.m. that night. Officers from the Shaker Heights Police Department responded to the pharmacy in the 17000 block of Chagrin Boulevard to conduct a search of the premises. What they discovered shocked the community: Strand’s body inside a trash compactor at the rear of the property.
Shaker Heights Police Commander John Cole confirmed that Strand’s wife had told officers her husband was performing contract work at the facility before he vanished. “We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time,” Cole said.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner is working to determine the cause and manner of death. Authorities have not released additional details about how Strand ended up in the compactor, and police have not indicated whether they suspect foul play or believe the death was an accident.
Strand, a mechanic who had recently launched his own company, was performing contract work at the Shaker Heights CVS when the tragedy occurred. According to a GoFundMe campaign organized by family friend Danielle Gorbe, the father had been excited about his new business venture. “He was recently starting his own company, which he was absolutely loving,” the fundraising page states.
CVS confirmed the incident in a statement to Cleveland 19 News. “We’re cooperating with police as they investigate the death of a contractor outside our Chagrin Blvd store,” a CVS spokesperson said.
Friends and family have rallied around Strand’s wife and their two young children—a son and a daughter—in the wake of the devastating loss. Andy and Jaymie had been married for seven years at the time of his passing. The GoFundMe campaign created to support the family and cover funeral expenses has raised thousands of dollars, with donations pouring in from friends, relatives, and strangers touched by the story.
The fundraising page paints a portrait of a devoted family man who prioritized his wife and children above all else. Strand was a mechanic for many years and played hockey throughout his life, influencing his son to develop passions for both cars and the sport. He coached his son’s hockey and baseball teams, and supported his daughter’s pursuits in dance and gymnastics.
“His wife and children were the center of his life and he loved them immensely,” the GoFundMe page states.
Gorbe, the fundraiser organizer, described Strand as her husband’s good friend for nearly 12 years. She wrote that Andy’s passing was “sudden and unexpected,” leaving his family in disarray. The funds raised will support Jaymie and her children during this difficult transition while also covering funeral expenses.
The tragedy has struck the Brunswick community particularly hard, as many knew Strand through his active involvement in his children’s sports and activities. Those who knew him remember a man who consistently showed up for others, whether friends or strangers in need. The family described him as “a kind man who always showed up to support his friends or anyone who needed him.”
The investigation into Strand’s death continues as authorities work to piece together the events of that Wednesday evening. The medical examiner’s findings will be crucial in determining what happened in the final hours of the 34-year-old father’s life.
For now, Jaymie Strand and her two children face an uncertain future without their husband and father. The outpouring of community support has provided some comfort during an unimaginably painful time, but the family’s grief is compounded by the mystery surrounding Andy’s death.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Shaker Heights Police Department.