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Local family of SIU student who died sues Carbondale

CARBONDALE - The Morton Grove family of a 19-year-old Southern Illinois University student found dead near the school has filed a lawsuit against Carbondale, its police chief and the person who last saw him alive.

Pravin Varughese's mother filed the lawsuit Thursday accusing the city and police chief of negligence. Varughese's body was discovered in a wooded area in February nearly a week after he went missing.

Authorities have said there wasn't evidence of foul play and he likely died of cold exposure. But the family's lawyer says a private autopsy showed he was beaten.

The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million for wrongful death from the man who last saw Varughese alive.

The police department says it doesn't comment on pending lawsuits. The case is under review by the state's attorney's office.

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