IU Student Media Director''s death ruled an accidental drowning

Monroe County Coroner David Toumey has declared IU Student Media Director David L. Adams, an 18-year member of the Indiana Daily Student newsroom professional staff, dead from accidental drowning.\nAdams, who was pronounced dead at 10:37 p.m. on June 2, was found facedown in a koi pond in his backyard.\nThe autopsy report was released Monday at 12:05 p.m. and was performed at Terre Haute Regional Hospital by Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr. The autopsy was performed in Terre Haute because the Monroe County Coroner’s Office does not have forensic pathologist. \nToumey said nothing in the autopsy indicated Adams had any heart problems or other previous medical conditions that might have contributed to his death. Toumey also said there was no indication of foul play at the scene.\n“Based on the statements given to me by his partner and statements given to me by police, it is my belief that he was outside (and) may have slipped and fallen,” Toumey said.\nToumey said it only takes a few minutes to drown. He said he believed Adams fell face first into the fish pond and there may have been “a certain level of intoxication present at that time.”\nToumey said he was not sure if that had anything to do with the drowning. He said he would know in four to six weeks, when the toxicology report comes back to his office. He estimated Adams was in his pond 15 to 20 minutes before he was removed from the water.\nAlthough Toumey said he did not list them on the autopsy report, Adams had minor cuts and bruises. Those abrasions may have been sustained while Adams was being pulled out of the fish pond, Toumey said.\nAdams rescued the Arbutus, IU’s yearbook, from financial crisis and was a staunch advocate of First Amendment rights and independent student press that is free of censorship and administrative control. \nHe was 59 years old.