Autopsy complete, but officials waiting for test results to confirm Nathan Tracy's death
The autopsy on a man preliminarily identified as missing Trenton teenager Nathan Tracy is complete, but officials are waiting for dental records to confirm his identity.
Nathan Tracy
Washtenaw County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jeff Jentzen said Monday said the body found in a Pittsfield Township pond Saturday morning has been preliminarily identified as 19-year-old Nathan Tracy. The teen was last seen at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on Ranchero Drive near Oak Valley Drive.
Jentzen said the official cause of death, and any injuries Tracy may have suffered when the Ford Focus he was driving went off the road and crashed into the back of a parked truck, will be released after drug tests are done on his body.
“We are, at this point, still waiting to scientifically confirm his identification with dental comparisons,” Jentzen said. “The autopsy is completed pending drug testing and additional studies.”
Those tests could be done in a few days or it could take about two weeks, Jentzen said.
According to police, Tracy crashed into a truck parked in a car port Wednesday night, briefly spoke with a witness and then disappeared. On Friday, his family made an impassioned plea for him to come home.
Police stated Monday they would not speculate on any role drugs or alcohol played in the crash. That will come out in the toxicology report, according to officials.
Police and dozens of other people searched for Tracy in the area around the crash Friday afternoon and into the evening. The search included a Michigan State Police helicopter and search dogs. Late Friday evening, there was hope Tracy was simply too afraid to get in contact with family members as police dogs picked up a scent trail heading toward Ann Arbor.
At 10:38 a.m. Saturday, a maintenance worker at Weatherstone Condos on Oak Valley drive reported finding a person in a retention pond near the entrance to the complex. After a few hours of investigation, police told Tracy’s family they believed they had found his body.
Tracy was a second-year engineering student at Henry Ford Community College. He had driven to Ann Arbor to see friends following a family dinner on Wednesday. His mother, Mischelle Tracy, described him as “a very social kid with lots of friends” when she spoke to AnnArbor.com on Friday.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Alex Swary
Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
I live in the apartment complex where this accident occured. Any place where there is a carport on Ranchero Drive is hardly a road, more of a parking lot. It would be very hard to be driving fast enough to sustain a life threatening injury from hitting a parked car there. I was driving on Oak Valley to Meijer when I saw the police had taped off part of the street the other day. I had no idea what was going on. Awful to learn the reason why.
Ron
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
Read the story, it clearly states they are waiting for DENTAL RECORDS to confirm it is him. Senseless comments just because of the way the Headline is written. A living soul has lost his life and all you can think about is how a headline is written? Forget about how and why it is written the way it is, instead think about what the family is going through with the loss of their son if it is in fact him. If you were not the police or the M.E., then lets not speculate on it. They do things a certain way so no stone is left unturned. Have to make sure of everything. Just think about the family now and keep them in your prayers. Just think if it was a part of your family, how would you want it handled? RIP Nathan.
music to my ear
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 10:26 p.m.
I believe they already have all the results.they are just waiting for the family to give him a proper funeral ,this story was very sad for the area .plant a tree say a prayer. however for a while he was everybodys child. we were all hoping for a different outcome, rest in peace Nathan.
jns131
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
I am very curious as to the cause of death. You don't just up and die from a car accident when you were talking to someone moments before. I am still thinking head trauma. Like everything else, it will take what? 3 to 4 weeks? I await the report. Condolences to the family. Wow, what a shocker.
Ron
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
It does happen believe it or not. I stopped at an accident quite a few years ago and one of the kids that was in the car was out and walking around and talking to people and his twin was trapped in the car. The twin survived and the kid walking around died an hour after he got to the hospital. I know it's fact because the family and I are friends. Sad thing to see but it does happen.
oyxclean
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 9:36 p.m.
Honestly, I don't think anyone but the family should know the details of his death. They have been through enough without online gawkers. Let Nathan rest in peace.
Evalyn Yanna
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
And if they did release cause of death, some commenters will just complain about how it's worded!
trespass
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 9:36 p.m.
The Medical Examiner could be much more informative than he is being without compromising any professional standards. If for example, he had a head injury with bleeding in the brain, that result will not change because of drug test results. If his lungs are filled with pond water, it would be an indication that he was still breathing when he went in the water. That will not change with drug test results. I think the secrecy that surrounds the Medical Examiner's office verges on paranoia and does not serve the public well. AA.com reporters should not accept this from the MEs office.
trespass
Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
@Johnnya2- The functioning of the ME office is very important to public safety. All autopsies are open records with regard to FOIA, although some information may be redacted for privacy. Many ME offices give out preliminary findings because it may take months for all test results to come back. If you look at Dr. Jentzen's record while he was ME in Milwaukee you will find a number of controversial cases (google him). I am a pathologist and have reviewed some of his autopsies and I have concerns. My interest if professional.
johnnya2
Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 2:15 a.m.
Should not accept it? Do you think there is some FOIA type thing here? The medical examiner is not required by anything to give anybody any information. it really is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. No matter what the cause, the kid is still dead. I think that is far more important than your macabre need to know
UtrespassM
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 9:10 p.m.
This was what I thought too: " I am thinking he was hurt more from the crash than he thought and just collapsed, then passed, from his injuries. "
actionjackson
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
So very sad and could happen to any family. Heartfelt condolences to the family.
jmac
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
This is just a horrible thing to happen. I am thinking he was hurt more from the crash than he thought and just collapsed, then passed, from his injuries. Makes me more aware to actively seek help for someone who's involved in an accident like that since they themselves may not have the where-with-all to do so.
Linda Peck
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
Very true, jmac; even in an emergency room, with a broken arm, I had more injuries that because I was in pain I was not completely aware of and did not express to anyone. I have paid the price for this oversight. I am so sorry for Nathan's family. Blessings to Nathan and all of his family and friends.
GoNavy
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 7:20 p.m.
Headline check: Are officials still waiting to confirm Nathan Tracy's death (i.e., we're not sure if he's dead or not)? OR Are officials still waiting to confirm Nathan Tracy's *cause of death*? Attention to details guys -
Skyjockey43
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
A young man is dead and his family is mourning, And you come here to complain that a very clear headline is not up to your high literary standards? I'm completely at a lss for words here.
justcurious
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
None of this matters. Some stories are so unfortunate that comments such as this are unnecessary.
lumberg48108
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
Agree headline is misleading "Autopsy results to confirm body was that of Nathan Tracey" would seem to make sense as it is written (the headline, which should stand alone) it seems to be awaiting results a person is dead
ArthGuinness
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
Read the article. Without confirming that the dead person is indeed Nathan Tracy through dental records, they can't confirm that Nathan Tracy is dead. Attention to details, GoNavy.