Autopsy results released for Belhaven man found dead in Pearl River

BILOXI, Mississippi (WLBT) – A Belhaven man found dead in the Pearl River in April drowned, according to the state medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, the examiner released the results of Dau Mabil’s autopsy.

Mabil went missing in March and was found dead face down in the Pearl River the following month.

“Based on the deceased’s medical history, the circumstances of death, the findings at the crime scene, the results of the autopsy and the results of additional investigations, the cause of death is drowning,” the report said.

(READ: “I’m in a nightmare”: Wife of Belhaven man found dead in Pearl River gives update on case)

Although the cause of death was determined, the state coroner, Dr. Ariane Robison, was unable to determine why he drowned due to the condition of his remains.

“The state of postmortem decomposition of the remains and a lack of comprehensive contextual information prevented a conclusive determination of the manner of death,” she wrote. “However, should additional investigative details emerge in the future, this case will be re-evaluated and re-assessed accordingly.”

The report was signed by Robison and forensic pathologist Dr. Paul Uribe.

The autopsy was performed by Robison on April 18 at the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office in Biloxi.

According to the findings, there were no signs of trauma or injuries that contributed to Mabil’s death, nor did he suffer from any illness or physical condition that might have contributed to it.

Post-mortem toxicology tests revealed the presence of ethanol in the decomposition fluid. When his body was examined, it was already “moderately decomposed.”

Mabil was last seen alive on March 25 when he left his house to go for a walk.

Video footage taken at about 12:30 that afternoon showed him walking along Jefferson Street between Fortification Street and High Street wearing blue Adidas sweatpants, an orange shirt and a yellow hoodie around his waist.

His body was found on April 13. On April 18, Lawrence County Sheriff Ryan Everett confirmed the remains were Mabil.

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