Dominic Gavin and Shayne Hannan Found Dead in Euclid Motel Room on Euclid Avenue: North Canton and Bellaire Men Identified by Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

Tragedy at the Euclid Motel: Two Men Found Dead Inside Room on Euclid Avenue as Investigators Probe Possible Overdose

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A grim discovery at a modest motel on Cleveland’s East Side has launched a dual investigation by police and the medical examiner’s office. Two men — identified as Dominic Gavin, 27, of North Canton, and Shayne Hannan, 38, of Bellaire — were found deceased inside a single room at the Euclid Motel on Euclid Avenue on Wednesday, May 6. The scene, described by dispatch reports as containing blood throughout portions of the room and one victim seated in a chair bleeding, has raised numerous questions, though investigators have reportedly suggested that a possible overdose may be the cause.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office formally identified both men following the incident. As of this writing, no official cause or manner of death has been released pending autopsy results and toxicology testing. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not indicated whether foul play is suspected. However, the presence of blood and the discovery of one victim face down on the floor and another bleeding while seated have prompted a thorough forensic investigation.

This article expands on the known facts, explores the context of overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County, and seeks to honor the lives of two young men whose deaths remain shrouded in mystery.

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The Discovery: A Property Owner’s Harrowing Find

According to the Cleveland Police Department, the chain of events began on the morning of Wednesday, May 6, when the owner or manager of the Euclid Motel — a multi-unit lodging facility located along a busy stretch of Euclid Avenue in Cleveland — entered one of the motel rooms. The exact reason for the owner’s entry has not been disclosed, but it may have been related to a routine check, a missed checkout, or a complaint from neighboring guests.

What the property owner found was deeply disturbing. Inside the room, two adult males were unresponsive. According to dispatch reports obtained by local news outlets, one victim was found lying face down on the floor. The second man was discovered seated in a chair inside the room, with reports indicating that he was bleeding. Furthermore, authorities noted that blood was found throughout portions of the scene, suggesting either a violent altercation, self-inflicted injuries, or medical trauma related to an overdose (such as vomiting blood, nosebleeds, or injection site hemorrhaging).

The property owner immediately called 911. Cleveland EMS and police officers responded to the scene within minutes. Upon arrival, emergency medical personnel confirmed that both men showed no signs of life. Resuscitation efforts were not initiated, as the victims had clearly been deceased for some time. The Euclid Motel was partially cordoned off as investigators began their work.

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The Victims: Dominic Gavin and Shayne Hannan

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office released the identities of the deceased later on Wednesday or early Thursday.

Dominic Gavin, age 27, was a resident of North Canton, Ohio — a suburban city in Stark County approximately 60 miles south of Cleveland. North Canton is known for its family-friendly neighborhoods and proximity to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton. At 27, Gavin was in the prime of his young adult life. Friends and family who later took to social media described him as a kind-hearted individual who had struggled with personal challenges but was loved by many. His age suggests he may have been a millennial or young Gen Z adult navigating the complexities of post-pandemic life.

Shayne Hannan, age 38, was a resident of Bellaire, Ohio — a small village in Belmont County along the Ohio River, in the eastern part of the state near the West Virginia border. Bellaire is approximately 130 miles southeast of Cleveland, a three-hour drive. The fact that Hannan was found in a Cleveland motel room, far from his hometown, raises immediate questions: Was he visiting Cleveland for work, medical treatment, family reasons, or something else? Was he traveling with Gavin, or did the two men meet in Cleveland?

As of now, the relationship between Dominic Gavin and Shayne Hannan has not been established by authorities. They may have been friends, acquaintances, or strangers who ended up in the same room by chance. They may have known each other from previous encounters or been connected through social circles involving substance use, which is a common thread in overdose cases. Neither man’s family has released a public statement, though it is likely that both families have been notified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.

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The Scene: Blood, Chairs, and Unanswered Questions

The details of the scene described in dispatch reports are highly unusual for a typical overdose. In most opioid overdoses, victims are found with needles or drug paraphernalia nearby, but blood is not typically “throughout the scene” unless there was trauma, a struggle, or a specific medical event such as a ruptured esophageal varices (often associated with alcohol abuse) or a severe nosebleed caused by stimulant use (such as cocaine or methamphetamine).

The fact that one victim was found seated in a chair, bleeding, suggests that he may have been conscious for some time after the overdose began, or that the bleeding occurred from an external injury. The other victim, found face down on the floor, is a more common position for overdose victims who collapse suddenly.

Investigators noted the presence of blood “throughout portions of the scene” — a phrase that could mean blood spatter, pools, or smears. This kind of scene would typically prompt a criminal investigation into potential assault, homicide, or accidental traumatic injury (such as a fall while intoxicated).

However, despite the gruesome condition of the room, investigators reportedly believe the deaths may have been related to a possible overdose. This suggests that drug paraphernalia — such as syringes, pipes, baggies, or residue — was found at the scene, and that there were no obvious signs of forced entry or defensive wounds that would indicate a third-party homicide.

But the presence of blood complicates that theory. Some drugs, particularly stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause users to pick at their skin, scratch themselves, or engage in self-harming behaviors while under the influence. Additionally, certain injection-related infections can lead to bleeding. It is also possible that one or both men suffered a traumatic fall against furniture or glass before dying.

Until the autopsy results are released, the exact cause of death — and the source of the blood — will remain unknown.

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The Euclid Motel: A Location Under Scrutiny

The Euclid Motel, located on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, is part of a long corridor that has seen better days. Euclid Avenue was once known as “Millionaires’ Row” in the late 19th century, but today, stretches of it are characterized by aging motels, check-cashing stores, and low-income housing. The motel itself is a single-story or two-story roadside establishment with exterior room doors — the kind of place that often rents by the hour or week and has a reputation for transient guests.

According to online reviews and local news archives, the Euclid Motel has been the site of prior police incidents, including drug arrests, domestic disputes, and at least one other death in recent years. Motels of this type are frequently used by individuals experiencing homelessness, those in recovery, or those actively using substances, as they offer privacy and require less documentation than apartments.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health has inspected the Euclid Motel in the past for code violations, though it remains open for business. Following Wednesday’s discovery, the motel’s owner declined to comment, referring all questions to the Cleveland Police Department.

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Overdose Crisis in Cuyahoga County: A Grim Context

The suspected overdose deaths of Dominic Gavin and Shayne Hannan would add to a staggering toll in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland. According to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, 2024 saw over 400 unintentional drug overdose deaths, with fentanyl detected in approximately 80% of cases. The numbers for 2025 are trending similarly.

Fentanyl — a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin — has saturated the illegal drug supply throughout Ohio. It is often mixed with cocaine, methamphetamine, or counterfeit pills without the user’s knowledge. Even a tiny amount can cause rapid respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and death within minutes.

If Dominic Gavin and Shayne Hannan did die of overdoses, the presence of blood could be explained by a phenomenon known as “fentanyl-induced pulmonary edema” — fluid in the lungs that can be expelled as frothy blood. Alternatively, if they were using stimulants, severe agitation and high blood pressure could have led to a hemorrhagic stroke or ruptured blood vessel.

Until toxicology results are completed — a process that can take six to eight weeks — the medical examiner will not rule officially on the cause of death.

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The Investigation: No Arrests, No Foul Play Suspected Yet

The Cleveland Police Department has not announced any arrests in connection with the deaths. They have also not named any persons of interest. The absence of arrests suggests one of several possibilities:

· No evidence of third-party involvement. The scene may have been locked from the inside. No signs of forced entry. No witness reports of a fight or intruder.
· The deaths are considered medical events. Investigators may be treating the case as a death investigation rather than a criminal homicide.
· Evidence is still being processed. Forensic analysis, fingerprinting, DNA testing, and toxicology can take weeks. The police may be waiting for those results before making a statement.

Detectives spent several hours at the Euclid Motel on Wednesday, photographing the scene, collecting blood samples, bagging potential drug paraphernalia, and interviewing other motel guests. A canvass of nearby businesses may yield surveillance footage showing who entered or left the room in the 24 hours before the bodies were found.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct autopsies on both men. The autopsies will include external and internal examinations, as well as comprehensive toxicology screens. The medical examiner will also look for needle marks, blunt force trauma, or signs of a struggle.

It is possible that the deaths will be ruled “accidental” due to drug toxicity, or “undetermined” if evidence is inconclusive. Homicide would only be ruled if there is clear evidence that another person caused the deaths through violence or by forcibly administering drugs.

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Family and Community Response

As of publication, neither the Gavin family nor the Hannan family has issued a public statement. However, friends of Dominic Gavin have begun posting tributes on social media. One Facebook user wrote: “Dom was a good dude with a big heart. He had his demons like all of us. I can’t believe he’s gone. Rest easy, brother.”

Another friend posted: “27 is too young. Too damn young. Say his name — Dominic Gavin. He mattered.”

For Shayne Hannan, tributes have been slower to emerge, possibly because of the distance between Bellaire and Cleveland. A Bellaire-based community group shared a brief post: “Prayers for the family of Shayne Hannan. Another life lost too soon. May he find peace.”

Neither family has announced funeral arrangements. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the bodies to next of kin once autopsies are complete, which typically takes one to three days for the procedure itself, though toxicology may delay final release.

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Overdose Prevention: What Can Be Done?

The suspected overdose deaths at the Euclid Motel underscore the ongoing need for harm reduction strategies in Cuyahoga County. These include:

· Naloxone (Narcan) distribution. Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses if administered in time. It is available for free at many pharmacies and community health centers.
· Fentanyl test strips. These strips can detect fentanyl in drugs before use, allowing users to take precautions. They are legal in Ohio.
· Safe consumption sites. While controversial, supervised injection facilities have been shown to reduce overdose deaths in other cities. Cleveland has debated them but not yet approved one.
· Treatment on demand. Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine or methadone is critical.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, call the Ohio Crisis Text Line (text 4HOPE to 741741) or the Cuyahoga County ADAMHS Board at (216) 241-3400.

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Conclusion: Awaiting Answers

For now, the deaths of Dominic Gavin, 27, of North Canton, and Shayne Hannan, 38, of Bellaire, remain a mystery wrapped in a tragedy. They were found in a motel room on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, one face down on the floor, one seated in a chair bleeding. Blood was found throughout the scene. Investigators suspect overdose, but they have not ruled anything out.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office will provide answers — but not yet. The Cleveland Police Department will continue its investigation. And two families will wait, grieve, and eventually bury their sons.

Until then, the Euclid Motel stands as a somber landmark — a place where two young men from different parts of Ohio came together for reasons unknown, and never left.

This article will be updated as the Cleveland Police Department and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office release additional information. Anyone with information regarding the deaths of Dominic Gavin or Shayne Hannan is urged to contact Cleveland Police at (216) 621-1234.