WICHITA, Kan. (AP) An autopsy shows that a man whose body went undiscovered in his Wichita apartment for 12 weeks after a fire died of smoke inhalation.
The Wichita Eagle reports investigators have ruled out foul play in the death of Louis Cervantes, 65, described by authorities as a “hoarder.” The autopsy showed some burns to the head but no other injuries, and no drugs or alcohol in his system.
The fire occurred Dec. 27 and has been ruled accidental. It was confined to an area around a space heater and extension cord.
The cluttered apartment was searched after the fire and again after neighbors reported not seeing Cervantes for weeks. But crews did not find Cervantes’ body under several layers of clothing. It was discovered March 12 by workers cleaning the apartment.
