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Autopsy set for possible drowning victim
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Posted on Oct 12 2005
The Department of Public Safety cannot say for sure that the man found floating off a beach in Chalan Piao last Saturday died of drowning pending an autopsy.
Although investigators have already identified the victim, acting Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric David said they would still have to schedule an autopsy to find out for sure the man’s official cause of death.
He said DPS has already contacted chief medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola to fly in from Guam to perform the procedure.
David said the police are also not at liberty yet to divulge the man’s identity pending notification of family members. Police are still waiting for family members to claim the body from the hospital. David confirmed earlier, though, that the man was Chinese.
Police earlier said that the man was wearing short pants and had no slippers or shirt when his body was found floating facedown off the Hopwood Junior High School area.
David said investigators found no identification cards on the man’s pockets. The lack of identification prompted police to call the Saipan Tribune Saturday night and ask for help in soliciting community information about the man’s identity. On Sunday, though, the DPS said the man’s identity had already been ascertained.
David said a Caucasian couple was walking at the vicinity when they spotted the floating body. The couple then alerted persons at a nearby pavilion about the sighting.
Police said two persons went to the site and saw the floating body about six feet away from the shoreline. They reportedly brought the body ashore. Investigators responded to the scene and brought the man to the Commonwealth Health Center where he was declared dead.
