Autopsy shows University of Iowa student died of hypothermia

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — An autopsy shows a University of Iowa student found unresponsive last month in sub-zero temperatures died of hypothermia.

The Press-Citizen cites a news release sent out Friday by the university and the Johnson County Medical Examiner Department in the Jan. 30 death of 18-year-old Gerald Belz. Belz was found unresponsive around 3 a.m. behind an academic hall near his dorm on campus during record cold temperatures.

The temperature at the time was more than negative 20 degrees (-28.89 Celsius), and the wind chill had dropped below negative 50 degrees (-45.56 Celsius).

Belz had graduated from Kennedy High School in 2018, where he played football. He would have turned 19 last week.