The body of missing 19-year-old Southern Illinois University student was discovered dead in the woods near Buffalo Wild Wings in Carbondale Tuesday.
Pravin Varughese was last seen with his cousin and roommate at a house party in Carbondale Feb. 12, about three miles from where his body was found. The college sophomore left the party with an acquaintance just before midnight. An argument reportedly exploded in the car, prompting Varughese to get out and escape into the woods, NY Daily News reports.
Carbondale police have not yet determined the nature of the dispute. They believe that Varughese got out of the car all by himself.
Jody O'Guinn, Carbondale Police Chief, said that cold weather might have played a role in the death of the sophomore. Varughese was only wearing jeans and a shirt when he entered the woods. The difficult terrain and low temperatures might have made it difficult for the student to find his way out of the woods, Belleville News reports.
The police officials do not suspect any foul play, pending autopsy and toxicology results. Deputy Chief Stan Reno said that there were no visible signs of trauma on Varughese's body.
"My thoughts are with the Varughese family and all those who mourn Pravin. I, alongside Pravin's family and many others, had hoped and prayed during this difficult time that he would be found safe and well," SIU chancellor Rita Cheng said in a statement.
Varughese from suburban Morton Grove was a criminal justice major who aspired to become a police officer.
"He was just one of those people you couldn't be upset around," said Dakota Reynolds, 22, a former SIU student who was good friends with Varughese. "The whole story doesn't seem real to me. It's not like Pravin to do something like that," Chicago Tribune reports.
