Body found in pond identified as Purdue student from China

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - A man's body found last month in a northwest Indiana pond has been identified as that of a 30-year-old Purdue University graduate student from China.

Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said the body, which was discovered on Aug. 23 in a West Lafayette pond, is that of Minxi Yang. She said the coroner's office had to collect DNA from a relative to compare against the DNA of the man found in the pond.

Costello said she received confirmation of Yang's identity on Monday and notified his family in China, the Journal and Courier reported.

Yang was listed in Purdue's directory as a graduate student in the Physics and Astronomy Department.

Costello could not estimate how long he had been in the water and his body had moderate decay. She found no signs of trauma, which indicates Yang was not assaulted, and no signs of disease, which might indicate he accidentally fell in the water or that his death was natural.

The coroner's office is awaiting toxicology reports before ruling about the manner and cause of his death.