The Nueces County Medical Examiner has released Caleb Harris’ autopsy report, stating that the manner of death “cannot be determined with certainty” based on the state of decomposition.
The 21-year-old Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi student’s remains were found June 24 by city workers inside of the Perry Place Wastewater Lift Station off the 5300 block of Lexington Road, about a block from his off-campus apartment, where the New Braunfels man was last seen more than three months before.
The remains were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where forensic analysts confirmed they belonged to Harris though DNA analysis, the Corpus Christi Police Department announced in a press release on July 17.
In the autopsy report released Aug. 6, which included a toxicologic analysis and microscopic examination of the residual organs, the examiner said that at the time Harris’ remains were found, they were “in an advanced state of decomposition and skeletonization.”
“While no significant traumatic injuries are identified, the condition of the remains could have obscured subtle injuries and/or additional significant natural disease,” it stated. “Toxicology analysis is negative. The exact details leading up to the terminal event and death are currently unclear.”
Skeletal remains were found almost complete, with several bones absent, including the mandible, clavicles, right left ulnas, sternum, some of the rib, and most of the foot bones.
Stained clothes, including dark discolored teal pants, dark-stained red, white and blue plaid patterned boxers and a dark baseball cap were also found covered in mud, dirt and plant material, according to the examination notes.
Harris was last seen walking a roommate’s dog on the evening of March 4 near campus at his apartment complex on Ennis Joslin Road. An avid fisherman, he had been chatting with friends about a planned fishing trip and ordered food between 2 and 3 a.m. the morning he disappeared, which was delivered to and left on his doorstep.
His keys, wallet and vehicle were left at the apartment complex.
CCPD detectives began an investigative search on March 6 to find Harris, searching ditches, fields and brush areas in the immediate areas of his apartment, with local and national law enforcement agencies joining in the effort. While the student’s phone has not been found, detectives and forensic computer examiners with CCPD said they became aware of some recent activity on the phone on May 28, sharing the information with the entire investigative team, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and the Texas Rangers.
That activity led the police to state at one point in the investigation in June that they suspected foul play. However, they have since confirmed that they have never found a single piece of evidence suggesting that foul play was involved.
On Friday, July 19, CCPD Assistant Chief Todd Green explained how the police investigation entailed a two- to three-day search of city storm water and wastewater drains and facilities directly outside of the Cottages at Corpus Christi apartments.
Crews lifted manhole covers on storm drains along the sidewalks surrounding the apartment and immediate streets. At the time, people were unaware that a manhole cover was located in one of the adjacent fields across Harris’ apartment complex that was part of the drainage system.
On April 17, a woman who was walking her dog through that field alerted police to the open manhole with the missing cover, leading them to contact members of the Corpus Christi Water department to manually activate the pump and search the station. Police looked there earlier in the investigation for a body or missing items, but did not find anything.
The day that Harris’ remains were found, an alarm located inside of the wastewater lift station alerted department officials that something had jammed the pump. When they went to the building to check on the pipes and pumps, they discovered clothing that alarmed them.
The assistant police chief said that it was when the Corpus Christi Fire Department officials went outside to open the pit providing an access point into the well that they saw a portion of Harris’ body through the grate, including his head.
Many questions still surround the case of Harris. Police say they do not know how Harris’ body wound up inside of the wastewater well.
As they awaited the final autopsy report ruling the cause and manner of death to determine how the investigation would move forward, friends and family members of Harris joined together to attend candlelight vigils held in the students’ honor.
More: ‘No one noticed that’: CCPD Assistant Chief provides details on Caleb Harris’ remains
More: A community vigil for TAMUCC student Caleb Harris
More: Remains found in wastewater well last month identified as TAMU-CC student Caleb Harris
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Caleb Harris’ cause of death undetermined, autopsy report says
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