19-year-old man found in Purdue’s Physics Building died from asphyxia

• A 19-year-old man’s body was discovered Wednesday inside the Physics Building on Purdue University’s campus.
• The man was found at the top of a staircase leading to a door for authorized personnel only.
• A preliminary autopsy ruled the cause of death as asphyxia.
• Authorities are using DNA to positively identify the man, and final autopsy results are pending toxicology reports.

LAFAYETTE, IN — Investigators found a man’s body Wednesday at the top of stairs leading to a door for authorized personnel in the Physics Building, Tippecanoe County’s coroner said.

People often used the stairs one flight below where the 19-year-old man was found, Coroner Carrie Costello said Friday. But the stairs leading to the authorized personnel door were not often used.

Police found the man, whom the coroner’s office has not yet positively identified, with a bag over his head. The preliminary autopsy findings ruled the cause of death as asphyxia, Costello said. DNA will be used to identify him.

Final results are pending toxicology reports to determine any contributing factors to the man’s death, Costello said.

Purdue University police Capt. Song Kang said police received a check-well-being request for a student on Wednesday afternoon. Officers searched the Physics Building based on the person’s schedule, which included classes there.

The body was discovered about 5:25 p.m. Wednesday.

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Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.