Officials, Friends Looking for Answers in Death of Fenton Man

A 24-year-old Fenton man was found dead on Saturday and officials are still trying to determine what caused his death.

Zachary Harding, a 2004 Fenton graduate, was found dead in a bedroom, police said.

Chief Rick Aro said an officer was dispatched to the 700 block or North East Street around 7:40 p.m. Feb. 5 for a death investigation. Aro said officers met with Harding’s father, who had been at work and returned home to find his son unresponsive in a back bedroom of the house.

Aro said officers performed CPR unsuccessfully. Harding was transported to Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Aro said officers and Harding’s father noticed a strong odor of natural gas in the house and a burner on the stove turned on.

Aro said officers attempted an autopsy, revealing no apparent cause of death. The full findings of the autopsy are pending the results of a toxicology report.

Harding's friends were shocked to hear the news of his death.

Derek Schultz, of Linden, said he attended school with Harding and first met him in kindegarten and had been friends with him ever since, bowling, being in Cub Scouts, and attending concerts together.

"We also tended to goof around in school together," Schultz said. "He was definitely a class clown. Zach liked to see other people smile and had a very comedic personality about himself. Zach was very friendly, confident, and funny."

Justin Padgett, of Fenton, said he and Harding were inseparable during high school and always found ways to have good times.

“Zach and I shared a special friendship in a way that we could find fun in doing anything,” Padgett said. “If we were assigned to watch paint dry, we would have fun doing that.”

Padgett said while the two goofed off a lot, he added that Harding was truly a good person.

“Zach was one of the friends that you could confide in with anything, and I mean anything,” Padgett said. “I will never forget him or his uncanny capability to make someone laugh or tell a joke. Certainly, we were not perfect angels, and sometimes we were mischievous, but we were good kids.”

Harding was born May 13, 1986 in Flint and is the son of Douglas Dean Harding and Lisa Lynn Krusyna. He graduated from in 2004. He was an avid golfer, loved bowling and enjoyed dancing. His friends said he was a very sharp dresser, who was well mannered.

Since hearing of his death, friends have flooded his Facebook page with rest in peace, missing you and condolence messages.

Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Faith Baptist Church, 4518 West Silver Lake Road in Linden with Pastor Ken McMaster officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Thursday at 1000 Silver Lake Road in Fenton. Memorial donations may be made to Faith Baptist Church.

You can view the full obituary at the Sharp Funeral Homes Web site.