Will speak on issue at a weekend press conference.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: The Mayor of Morton Grove Dan DiMaria has called for authorities to re-examine the mysterious death of Southern Illinois University student Pravin Varughese, whose body was found in the woods in February, and has led to allegations of incompetency by the Carbondale police and the firing of its police chief.
DiMaria says he’ll speak at a weekend news conference asking authorities to re-examine the circumstances of Varughese’s death, reported CBS.
“I urge people that are involved with this investigation to get some answers,†DiMaria said. “I don’t feel that I’m calling them out. What I feel is that I want them to know that their home community here is in full support of getting answers, getting resolved, as swiftly as possible.â€
The official reason for the death of Varughese was hypothermia. His family, however, has enough evidence to suggest otherwise: they believe he was murdered. They even paid for a second autopsy which concluded he died from blunt force trauma to the head.
CBS reported that Varughese’s mother is grateful for the mayor’s help.
“To me, if we get an answer now we can maybe get some kind of peace,†Lovely Varughese said.
The public information officer for Carbondale police say the death is still an open investigation and they cannot comment.
The family of Varughese have also filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Carbondale, Illinois and the former Chief of Police of Carbondale Jody O’Guinn, and an individual who they believe murdered Pravin: Gaege Bethune.
O’Guinn was fired recently from her position, as the Carbondale police came under scathing criticism for the incompetent handling of the Varughese case.
Last week, lawyers for Carbondale and O’Guinn responded saying they want the lawsuit to be dismissed. Bethune has been on the run from the police, and is scared of being served papers, the family of Varughese contend.
Recently, NBC Chicago did an investigation of Varughese’s death and say they have “uncovered mounting evidence that shows the death was no accident.â€