Coroner: SIU student found dead in campus creek drowned

By The Associated Press

Last updated on May 12, 2016 at 11:35 p.m.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – A coroner says a Southern Illinois University graduate student from China who was found dead in a creek on the Carbondale campus drowned. No foul play is suspected.

Thirty-one-year-old Huaijun Meng (hew-eye-juhn ming) was found fully clothed and face down shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday in the creek near Wright Hall.

Jackson County Coroner Thomas Kupferer (KOOP’-fer-er) says an autopsy shows Meng drowned in the creek, where the water was about three feet deep.

Tests to determine if drugs or alcohol were in his system are pending.

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Neighbors described the student as quiet but friendly, and they say they last saw him Tuesday evening.

Meng was studying electrical and computer engineering.

Information from: (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan, www.southernillinoisan.com