Mystery deepens after young boy's body found in suitcase
An investigation is underway after the body of a young child was found in a suitcase in the US state of Indiana last month.
A local mushroom hunter discovered the boy's remains in a "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" hardshell suitcase in a "heavily wooded area" of Washington County on April 16.
Despite receiving numerous tips, police said the identity of the child — who is about five-years-old — remains a mystery, Indiana State Police said.
On Friday, officers revealed the boy died from an electrolyte imbalance.
He likely suffered from a stomach virus, or, in other words, vomiting and diarrhoea, leading to dehydration, they said.
An autopsy report indicated there were no significant traumatic injuries, and the boy's blood toxicology was negative.
"Detectives also stated they have no evidence which leads them to believe the child was alive when placed into the suitcase, and that the child was clothed and clean," the police department said.
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The boy has previously been described by police as a "young, black male between the ages of five-years-old and eight-years-old".
"The child is approximately four feet tall (1.2 metres) and has a slim build and a short haircut," an earlier press release said.
Investigators believe the child's death occurred within a week of when the body was found.
“Investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the child could be from out of state or even out of the country,” police said, according to local news outlets.
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