The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office has listed the provisional manner and cause of Marc Welzant's death as undetermined, Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston stated Tuesday in an email.
"Based upon the circumstances as they were, I don't anticipate that changing," McQuiston stated on the cause of death, as the final autopsy has not been completed.
Last week, Brainerd police reported there were no preliminary indications that foul play was involved in Welzant's death. Welzant's remains were located March 25 on private property not far from the Mississippi River in a undeveloped wooded area about 2 miles south and west from where he was last seen.
Welzant was last seen the afternoon of Oct. 26, 2014, when he left his group home. He was recorded on video at the Holiday Gas Station on South Sixth Street in Brainerd shortly before 3 p.m. In addition, Brainerd police received a report at 4:30 p.m. from a group of people who saw Welzant heading west on the walking trail at Kiwanis Park.
Initial searches included the areas of Kiwanis Park to the Buster Dog Park, the Buffalo Hills Trail, behind the Brainerd Water Plant, as well as the woods between the Mississippi River to Central Lakes College.
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Welzant, who is the youngest of 11 siblings, was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome at 2 years of age, a rare genetic disorder that can result in a range of physical, mental and behavioral problems.
His birthday was celebrated on March 17 and he would have turned 50.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office are assisting the Brainerd Police Department on the case.
Those with information regarding the investigation are asked to contact the Brainerd Police Department at 218-829-2805.
