From the Times Daily

A 2-year-old Amish boy died when he accidentally hanged himself Tuesday morning inside the family barn.

Lawrence County Sheriff Kenny Taylor said family members found Danny Miller around 10:30 a.m. hanging from a rope at their residence on 62 Grey Road, which is west of U.S. 43 near Buffalo Road.

“The family was outside of the barn working and doing other chores and they saw the little boy run inside the barn,” Taylor said. “He was apparently playing with a nylon string that was hanging from a joist in the loft.”

Chief Deputy Terry Beecham said the string is used to restrain a cow’s tail while it is being milked.

“The little boy couldn’t hardly reach it, and it appears he got a milk stool and was standing on it, playing with the rope,” Beecham said.

Taylor said all indications are that the milk stool toppled over, and the little boy got the rope tangled around his neck.

“The family knew he had gone into the barn, because he always went in there and played,” Taylor said. “They said they got to missing him and didn’t hear him playing inside the barn.

“When they went inside, they found him. It had been about 10 minutes after he went into the barn.”

He said the accident has shocked the local Amish community.

Taylor said he returned to the family home later Tuesday afternoon and a number of buggies were parked around the house as friends and neighbors gathered to offer support.

“This is horrible, just horrible,” Taylor said. “I know the family, know them well. They’re good people and I know they’re hurting.

“I told my wife that it wasn’t much over a week ago that I was out at their house and I gave (the little boy) and his brothers and sisters some candy. You just never know.”