Student's Death Remains a Mystery




January 22, 2005
By Steve Gibson
Sacramento Bee

DAVIS - Authorities said the death of a 26-year-old University of California, Davis, graduate student remained unexplained Friday after an autopsy failed to pinpoint a cause.

Naum J. Phleger's death was being listed by campus police as "suspicious," and the Yolo County Coroner's Office said toxicology tests were being conducted.

Phleger's body was found Thursday on a lawn near King Hall, the UC Davis law school.

Phleger had been working toward a doctorate in biophysics, a campus spokesman said.

"There's no sign of any trauma or foul play," Robert LaBrash, a deputy coroner, said, "and there's no indication of any strong natural disease ... like cancer or a heart attack or a stroke."

He said toxicology results should be back in three or four weeks.

"At this point," LaBrash added, "his death is very much in question."

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/crime/story/12106336p-12976321c.html