Autopsy: OU student who died in fall had taken hallucinogen

The autopsy of an Ohio University student who died after a fall out of a dormitory window found evidence suggesting that he had consumed psilocybin mushrooms, a hallucinogenic drug, before the accident.

This finding confirms widespread campus rumors about the circumstances surrounding the April 29 death of student Eric S. Hansen.

In response to a question at the time from The Athens NEWS, OU Police Chief Andrew Powers said that he had heard such rumors, but that he could not confirm whether Hansen was under the influence of drugs at the time of his death, until toxicology reports came back from the autopsy.

The autopsy report on Hansen, prepared by the Franklin County Coroner's office, gives blunt-force head injuries as the immediate cause of death, and lists the death as an accident.

Hansen died April 29 in a Columbus hospital, to which he was transported after falling out of a fourth-floor window in Weld House, the residence hall where he lived.

Based on the autopsy report, an initial screening, reported June 1, found trace evidence in Hansen's blood of marijuana use, though no alcohol and no hallucinogens.

Additional toxicology screening was apparently ordered, however, on which a report was completed June 18.

This screening looked at Hansen's brain tissue in addition to his blood, and found the presence of psilocin, described in the report as a "hallucinogen from mushroom."