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New Details Emerge in Varughese Case

Carbondale Police

The investigation into an SIU student's death earlier this month is continuing, as new details are coming to light surrounding the night he went missing.

Illinois State Police confirm a Trooper did a routine check on a car stopped along Route 13 just east of Giant City Road shortly after midnight on February 13.  ISP Spokeswoman Monique Bond says the driver told the Trooper he'd been in an altercation with a passenger, and that the passenger had fled into the woods nearby.

Bond says the Trooper did a search of the area, and found nothing. When the driver's license and registration came back clean, he declined to file a police report and left.

Pravin Varughese was reported missing on the February 13th, and his body was found on February 18th in the woods just east of Buffalo Wild Wings. An autopsy shows he died of hypothermia, and toxicology test results are pending.

--- Previous Story from February 18th ---

Credit WSIU
Carbondale Police Chief Jody O'Guinn announces the body of a missing SIU student had been found on February 18th.

The Body of a missing SIU Student was found this morning in a wooded area on the east side of Carbondale.  Carbondale Police Chief Jody O'Guinn says they discovered the body of 19-year old Pravin Varughese  just south of Route-13 in the woods east of Buffalo Wild Wings.   O'Guinn says new information in the investigation developed last night that lead them to search the area this morning.  O'Guinn says Varguhese's body was discovered about 9:45am. 

Varguhese was last seen around 11:00 pm on February 12th in the 600 Block of West College street in Carbondale.   Chief O'Guinn says it appears he caught a ride that night with a recent acquaintance.   O'Guinn says they're not certain exactly what transpired that prompted Varguhese to flee from the car.

An autopsy is pending, but police say foul play is not suspected.  Police say it appears he may have succumb to the cold.  He was found wearing only a T-shirt and jeans.

Varughese is from Morton Grove, IL. He was a sophomore in criminology and criminal justice at SIU Carbondale.

--- Previous Story ---

Police say 19-year old Pravin Varughese of Morton Grove, IL was last seen in the 600 block of West College street around 11:00 pm on Wednesday.  

Varughese is described as 5'7, 150-pounds with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion.  He was last seen wearing a red shirt as shown in this photo.  Southern Illinois University Carbondale officials say Varughese is a Sophomore in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Police say he has a chest tattoo that reads "Fear God"   Police say they are investigating his disappearance.  Anyone with information is urged to contact the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200.

Jennifer Fuller joined Capitol News Illinois in July 2023 as the organization’s broadcast director. She will oversee the launch and operations of CNI’s new broadcast division.

Contact Jennifer Fuller at jfuller@capitolnewsillinois.com
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