Coroner: SIU student found dead in campus creek drowned

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) -- A coroner says a Southern Illinois University graduate student from China who was found dead in a creek on the Carbondale campus drowned. No foul play is suspected.

Thirty-one-year-old Huaijun Meng (hew-eye-juhn ming) was found fully clothed and face down shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday in the creek near Wright Hall.

Jackson County Coroner Thomas Kupferer (KOOP'-fer-er) says an autopsy shows Meng drowned in the creek, where the water was about three feet deep.

Tests to determine if drugs or alcohol were in his system are pending.

Neighbors described the student as quiet but friendly, and they say they last saw him Tuesday evening.

Meng was studying electrical and computer engineering.

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Information from: (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan, www.southernillinoisan.com