Autopsy reveals Kumar drowned
Drowning has been listed as the official cause of death in the case of Dr. Kumar, whose body was found by fishermen this Sunday – more than two months after he apparently took his own life by jumping into the Collins River.
The preliminary autopsy report revealing cause of death came as memorial services for Dr. K.P. Prasannakumar, 52, were held in Nashville Wednesday. A complete autopsy report will not be available for another month. However, the official cause of death by forensic pathologist Dr. Charles Harlan brings the long-standing investigation into Kumar’s mysterious disappearance to a close.
“This would seem to be the end of it,” said Sheriff Jackie Matheny whose department has investigated Kumar’s disappearance since the local physician was last seen Jan. 14.
It was on that day a friend of the doctor told lawmen Kumar had threatened suicide and then disappeared into the woods near the river behind his Collins River Drive home. When a week-long river dragging operation proved fruitless, lawmen turned their sights to other possibilities. They investigated scenarios of foul play and a faked death. However, Matheny said no information was ever generated suggesting anything but suicide.
The autopsy results, Matheny said, support the theory Kumar did jump into the river from the dock. The water on that day was 32 degrees, leading rescue officials to say a human could be stricken with hypothermia in just minutes.
The doctor’s body was found more than three miles from the point he jumped in, thus explaining why recovery teams were unable to locate his body. A swift current, investigators believe, quickly swept Kumar’s body away.
As for Kumar’s motive in taking his own life, lawmen say they are unsure – and may never know – what prompted the well-known physician and philanthropist to jump into the river.