Missing SIU Student Pravin Varughese Found Dead In Illinois

The missing SIU student, Pravin Varughese, who was reported missing last week, has been found dead in Illinois.

Varughese’s body was found on Tuesday in woodlands adjacent to the 1400-block of East Main Street in Carbondale. Chief Jody O’Guin of the Carbondale Police Department spoke about the events which lead to the death of Varughese:

“Investigators learned while on West College Street Pravin accepted a ride from a recent acquaintance on February 12, 2014, just before midnight. Following a dispute, Pravin exited the vehicle in the 1400 block of East Main Street and fled into the wooded area.”

The cause of death has not yet been determined by the Jackson County Coroner’s office, but foul play is not suspected:

“There were no obvious signs of trauma that would be caused by any suspicious means of any kind of altercation. So no outward signs we were able to see.The difficult terrain and low temperatures are believes to have contributed to Pravin’s difficulty finding his way out of the wooded area,” said Chief O’Guin.

Rae Goldsmith from SIU said about the tragic death of Pravin Varughese: “This is a moment of unimaginable sorrow for the entire SIU community, our thoughts are with Pravin’s family and all those who mourn his loss.”

As soon as the death of the missing SIU student was announced, condolences poured in from all over. The SIU student body Tweeted: “The Saluki family lost one of its own today. Keep Pravin Varughese’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. #RIPPravin”

There were also more personal condolences sent via social media. The SIU’s Pi Sigma Epsilon AB chapter tweeted, “Today we lost a brother, a member, and a friend. R.I.P. Dev. You will always be family to us and forever in our hearts.”