New York college student has died after spending hours off-campus in extremely cold subzero temperatures, police authorities announced.
According to officials, Suny Oneonta student, Tyler Lopresti-Castro, 20, was discovered by two Oneonta transit employees shortly before 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2022, lying unconscious on the pavement near a city bus garage.
The drivers contacted the city’s police and fire departments. When emergency workers arrived, they “did every possible thing they could do to resuscitate him,” Otsego County Coroner Terry Knapp said.
Lopresti-Castro, who was initially identified by his Suny Oneonta ID, was then transported to a local hospital where he died, authorities said.
The student, who was only wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, was suffering from “extended exposure to extremely cold, subzero temperatures,” Oneonta Police Chief, Christopher Witzenburg said during a press briefing.
Witzenburg characterized the case at this time as a “cold weather-related incident.”
The temperature that morning was negative 12, according to Knapp.
The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation. An autopsy is expected to be completed on Friday, January 28, 2022, officials said. At this point, police said there is “no indication of criminality.”
Suny Oneonta said it is fully cooperating with local authorities in the investigation.
“This is a very sad time for Suny Oneonta,” the university said in a statement.
“Our campus community is mourning the loss of one of our own, and we are focused on providing support to the student’s family and friends. Our hearts go out to them, and we are providing whatever assistance we can to help them during this difficult time.”
Suny Oneonta College Authorities
Lopresti-Castro, who lived off-campus, was found about 3.5 miles from the university, Witzenburg said.
Police are currently trying to fill in a two-hour gap in their timeline of his whereabouts.
Lopresti-Castro was last seen around midnight Thursday, January 28, 2022, according to the police report, though they did not provide any further details on where exactly the victim was. Garage surveillance video reviewed by detectives showed him emerging from a wooded area behind the garage around 2:15 a.m., which police believes he may have walked through deep snow and crossed a drainage creek before emerging onto the city property.
“Between midnight and 2:15 a.m. we really don’t know where he was, so we’re asking that the public contact the Oneonta Police Department with any information that they may be able to provide to detectives and try to fill that time gap,” Witzenburg said.
When asked by a reporter about the potential involvement of fraternity activity at the university, where it is currently a rush week, Witzenburg called it “speculation.”
“I don’t at this point have any information to believe that there was fraternity involvement, but it’s something we’re open to if we have more information,” Witzenburg said. “We can’t speculate at this time.”
Lisa Miller, a Suny Oneonta spokeswoman, told the media that the school has received no evidence that the death was fraternity-related, but will await the results of the police investigation.
She disclosed the school is not currently investigating any students.
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