The cause of College sophomore Alex Ryles’ death has been called into question by a post on Facebook.
On Nov. 25, Ryles’ sister, Emily Ryles, wrote on the Facebook group dedicated to Alex that the death was “not a suicide.”
“From information we have [received] from his friends and his messages, we know on Saturday night he had too much drink and made a mistake that cost him his life,” Emily wrote. “His death was a tragic accident.”
Emily did not respond to a request for comment.
However, at a grief counseling session for the University community Nov. 23, Associate Chaplain Stephen Kocher said Ryles “did take his own life.”
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said friends found Ryles, 19, dead on the morning of Nov. 22, in his off-campus apartment on the 4000 block of Pine Street.
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy and has not yet released the results.
The details for a campus memorial service are still being finalized, she added.
The Ryles family will hold a service for family and friends in Palo Alto, Calif., on Dec. 6.
An Urban Studies major, Ryles attended The Menlo School in his hometown of Atherton, Calif. He also contributed to 34th Street Magazine.
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