Natural causes contributed to death of UA alumnus found near campus
A preliminary autopsy by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office released yesterday determined that a deceased UA alumnus found in a vehicle near campus Tuesday died of natural causes.
Luis J. Medina, 43, was discovered in a 1982 Honda Accord parked in a duplex driveway of the 200 block of North Vine Avenue, said TPD spokeswoman Sgt. Judy Altieri.
"There were no gun shots or stab wounds indicating a homicide," Altieri said.
She said TPD is no longer investigating the case, but the Pima County Medical Examiner plans to perform toxicology tests to look for drugs in Medina's system. Police offered no further information.
University of Arizona Alumni Association records show that Medina graduated in 1979 with a public administration degree. According to the document, he lived on the 200 block of North Vine Avenue - the same location where Tucson police discovered his body.
Medina's brother, the current tenant of the residence, said yesterday Luis Medina had never lived there. He refused further comment.
The landlady, Rosaline Roda, yesterday said she never rented out to Luis Medina, saying only that his brother currently lives there. She also declined further comment.
Ilene Blackwell, a neighbor, contacted police after Roda discovered the body while doing yardwork.
"She (Roda) said 'you need to call the police because there's a man parked in your driveway with the windows rolled up and the radio on and he refuses to leave,'" Blackwell said.
Police said Roda discovered the body because of a stench emanating from the car. When officers arrived, they told Blackwell that the man in the car was dead.
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