Student’s death ruled a suicide

The Jan. 31 death of Fatima Larios, 19, sophomore of Seaside, California, has been ruled a suicide after an extensive forensic investigation, according to an email from the Chadron Police Department. An email from Chief of Police Tim Lordino Friday evening stated that Larios’ death was the result of asphyxia due to hanging. ​

The determination was made after extensive interviews, analysis of evidence, autopsy and toxicological testing, the email stated.

Chadron Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, Western Pathology Consultants at Regional West Medical Center and the Dawes County Attorney/Coroner’s Office were all a part of the investigation, according to Lordino.

The Chadron Police Department found Larios in a High Rise dormitory at 2:30 a.m., Jan. 31. She was pronounced dead after police were called to the dorm.

Larios was a second baseman and an outfielder for CSC’s softball team. She was listed on the roster as No. 20.

On Feb. 3, amending an earlier statement, Dawes County Attorney and Coroner Vance Haug issued a second press release in connection with the death of Larios stated that “foul play and all other possibilities continue to be investigated.”

In an original press release issued Jan. 31, Haug said, “A preliminary investigation of the scene leads Vance Haug, the Dawes County Attorney and Coroner, to believe that foul play is not involved…”

The Feb. 3 press release stated, “A forensic autopsy has been completed and additional forensic testing continues to assist in the final determination of cause of death.”