Death at city storage facility ruled suicide; probe continues into who stole gun

Rochester Self Storage at 112 South Main St (Rochester Voice file photo); inset Jessica Purslow (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The woman whose body was found inside a Rochester self-storage facility in October died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Rochester Police said today.

Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas told The Rochester Voice that 45-year-old Jessica Purslow committed suicide using a handgun that was later stolen from the scene.

The initial autopsy conducted just days after her death indicated Purslow had died from a single gunshot wound, but stopped short of ruling the death a homicide, which is when one person's death is caused by another.

Thomas said the medical examiner's office released the suicide finding today.

Thomas said police are continuing their investigation into who may have stolen the gun and added that progress was being made on that front.

Rochester Police found the body of Purslow around midnight on Oct. 6 after answering a call for an open storage unit at Rochester Self Storage at 112 South Main St.

The gated facility is tucked away behind Walgreen's and People's United Bank.

Soon after Purslow's death, her son, Trisstian Purslow, eulogized his mom on his Facebook page, which also contains a link to a fund-raising page to help with final expenses.

In part the post reads, "I couldn't have had a better and more loving mom. RIP."