KCCI.com, IA
04-04-07
Preliminary Autopsy Says Student Accidentally Drowned
Investigators Await Blood-Alcohol Test
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Preliminary autopsy results show the cause of death of a
19-year-old Iowa State University student was an accidental drowning.
The body of 19-year-old Abel Bolanos was found Tuesday afternoon in Lake
Laverne.
Investigators said it will be a few weeks for test results on his blood-alcohol level.
They said it is possible that he went in the water shortly after leaving the party
early Saturday morning, but the medical examiner said it's very hard to determine
how long he had been in the water.
ISU police said several people overnight told police that someone matching
Bolanos' description in the CampusTown area early Saturday morning.
Authorities are also following up on other leads.
There have been questions as to at whether alcohol may have been a factor in
Bolanos' death. Investigators said they are waiting for the autopsy results.
"I think that would be speculative. The only thing that I can comment on is that
witness statements indicate that he was intoxicated at least earlier in the evening
at the party. We are still following up to find out what his condition was when he
left the party," said ISU police commander Gene Deisinger.
The school released a statement about Bolanos' death.
Copyright 2007 by KCCI.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.