Cal Poly Police continue investigation into student death

Published: March 17, 2012 

Cal Poly police officials are continuing their investigation into the death of a 19-year-old freshman, who was found Friday in a car filled with poisonous gas on campus.

All indications lead police to believe no foul play occurred in the death of Osvaldo Julian Ponce.

They haven’t officially given a cause or manner of death.

A memorial Facebook page was created for Ponce that includes many of his friends from the Long Beach area, where he attended high school. He was known to them as “Osi” and one friend wrote, “We miss you so much and you have no idea the effect you have had on all of us.”

They shared condolences and prayers for the Cal Poly freshman physics major, who was found by a construction worker about 3 p.m. Friday in a Lexus with two homemade signs in the car warning outsiders of poisonous gas inside.

Cal Poly Police Chief Bill Watton said that an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. Police expect to confirm the cause of death after the autopsy. Police will interview people who spoke with Ponce in the days and hours leading up to his death as well as part of the investigation, Watton said.

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