BLUE ASH, OH — The family of an 11-year-old boy found dead inside a Blue Ash home is asking for answers as investigators work to determine how he died. Relatives identified the child as Cohen Slusher and said they are holding onto memories of his smile, his love for family and the closeness they shared with him.

Blue Ash police and firefighters were sent to a wellbeing check at a home on Belleview Avenue at 7:42 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Authorities said they found an 11-year-old child dead inside and took a woman to the hospital. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office is now working to determine the cause of death, but officials have not said when those results may be released.

Family members identify Cohen Slusher and remember his personality

Cohen’s mother, Lynsey Moore, and grandmother, Teri Sand, identified him publicly. They said he was a happy child whose expressions and energy stood out in family videos and photos. One family video from Chuck E. Cheese shows him dancing as an adult encourages him to keep moving.

Moore said his smile was unforgettable. Family members described him as someone who loved being around the people closest to him and who especially enjoyed his role as a big brother. Photos shared by relatives show him opening Christmas gifts, spending time with family and holding his little sister.

Relatives say Cohen was close to family and loved routine visits

Sand said Cohen enjoyed spending time with relatives and had favorite traditions that made sleepovers special. She recalled lunch dates at Kenwood Mall and remembered that when he stayed overnight, the family needed to buy frozen Chuck E. Cheese pizza for him. Those small routines, she said, were part of what made him easy to love.

Family members said he considered his uncle his best friend and loved being a big brother. Sand described him as a very sweet child who was loving and full of life. The memories, they said, are helping them hold onto who he was while they wait for official answers.

Mother says she stayed involved even though he lived elsewhere

Moore said she remained involved in her son’s life even though he had been living with his paternal grandmother. Court records show that grandmother had custody of Cohen since 2018. Moore said she last saw him about three weeks before the interview and trusted the arrangement they had in place.

Now, she says she wants to know exactly what happened and whether her son suffered. She said she is asking Cohen’s paternal grandmother for information and for peace of mind about his final moments. Her questions remain unanswered as the investigation continues.

Police delivered the death notification the day after the discovery

The family said they learned of Cohen’s death on Saturday, Oct. 24, after officers came to the home to notify them in person. Sand said two Lockland officers arrived around 4:30 p.m. and told them the child had died. She said the family’s first reaction was shock, followed quickly by questions about what had happened.

According to Sand, the officers said only that the matter was under investigation. The city’s release did not explain why the woman was hospitalized or provide an update on her condition. For the family, that lack of information has made the wait especially difficult.

Coroner investigation leaves the family waiting for timeline and findings

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has been called to determine Cohen’s cause of death, but no timeline has been given for the release of those findings. That leaves relatives with only fragments of information from the initial police response and the coroner’s pending review.

Moore said she intends to keep pressing for answers on her son’s behalf. “I will not stop,” she said. “I will be his voice.” For now, the family is focused on remembering Cohen while they wait for officials to explain what led to his death.