Published November 20, 2009 09:59 am -
Cause of teen’s death still undetermined
By Charlotte A. Graham, countyreporter@laurelleadercall.com
Autopsy results are not yet complete on the 16-year-old Laurel girls who died in October after being arrested by local law officials.
The girl, who was arrested by the Laurel Police Department for domestic disturbance on Oct. 3, was detained at the Jones County Juvenile Detention Center and died two days later after being transferred to a medical facility.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but on Wednesday Jon Kalahar, public affairs director of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said the department is “still waiting on autopsy results. The investigation is complete, except for the autopsy.”
Once the results are in, the findings will be turned over to the Jones County District Attorney’s Office. In an earlier interview, Kalahar explained that an autopsy is standard procedure when someone dies in a questionable manner. Kalahar, who serves as spokesman for the Bureau of Investigation because the bureau is a branch of the Department of Safety, added that the autopsy does not necessarily mean foul play is suspected.
Kalahar also noted that the lead investigator in the case is out of the office until Monday. The investigator is expected to inquire about the autopsy results when he returns.