The family of a Southern Illinois University student who was found dead in the woods earlier this year is pleading for justice in their son’s mysterious death.
“Our nightmare started then and we still have no answers,” said Lovely Varughese, mother of 19-year-old Pravin Varughese.
The Varughese family asked local officials to hold a news conference Saturday, on the eight-month anniversary of their son’s death. They said they wanted to bring new attention to the mystery surrounding their family’s tragic loss.
“We are a close-knit community in Morton Grove,” said Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria. “We pride ourselves on family. When a family in need has gone through tragedy, we’re there to help.”
Police initially told the family that the teen college student ran off after a night of drinking and died of hypothermia. But a second independent autopsy ordered by the family later showed that Varughese died of blunt force trauma to the head, with no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Over the last eight months, the family has gained support, but their pleads for justice have led to few answers.
“Pravin Varughese is not coming back,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “But we can still have justice in this case, answers in this case.”
The family says they’re not giving up their search for answers. Their attorney on Saturday criticized those handling the investigation.
“I say to the State’s Attorney, ‘Call a grand jury, get a special prosecutor,” said Attorney Charles Stegmeyer. “If you don’t want to do that, resign and get somebody who can do the job.”
