Update: The Death of Edimar de Araujo

Dr. Thomas P. Gilson, Rhode Island's Chief Medical Examiner, has just issued a press release as to the cause of Mr. Araujo's death:

"The cause of death for Edimar Alves De Araujo, a 34-year-old male from Milford, MA, who expired in Providence, RI, on August 7, 2007, after Federal Immigration agents took him into custody, has been determined to be acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and hydroxyzine (a medication used for the treatment of anxiety and emesis) with chronic seizure disorder as another significant condition contributing to death."

At the time of Mr. Araujo's tragic death, Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, stated, “I think everybody is waiting to see how this tragedy really occurred”. With the Medical Examiner's report, more of the picture has been filled in.

It is difficult to get away from the point Carroll Andrew Morse made in his original Anchor Rising post:

"From what we know, anyone with Mr. Araujo's medical condition -- citizen or non-citizen -- could have suffered the same unfotunate fate, if discovered to be the subject of an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop."