An independent autopsy shows 15-year-old Quawan Charles most likely died from drowning. No manner of death has yet to be confirmed.
According to TMZ, an autopsy done by the boy’s family, which was was performed by American Forensics, discovered evidence of possible drowning. These results were also found in the first autopsy. The report added that the first autopsy, which was conducted by the coroner’s office in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, was thorough. In addition, the report shows that there were no signs of natural disease or trauma and that the body was already starting to decompose when it was found.
For now, final toxicology and histology results are still pending, TMZ reports. Authorities are also still waiting on other investigative information. Water was found in the teen’s lungs, but his family was skeptical of the drowning theory after saying his face appeared to be beaten.
Quawan’s body was found in a sugar cane field. Ronald Haley, a lawyer for Quawan’s family, says investigators believe the teen’s face was eaten off by wild animals. But the family doesn’t believe that, and they allege foul play. Haley says cops are looking into the case as a possible homicide. TMZ reports that the family became more concerned that not only could there be foul play involved but also negligence on police officers’ end.
The family claims there are multiple holes in officers’ stories and that they acted lazily when the family first reported the boy as missing. Quawan’s family says it took them all of four days just to track his phone on Nov. 2., which ended up leading them to his body the next day. He was reported missing on Oct. 30.
