PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - Authorities continue to investigate the death of a man whose body was found in a Peoria hospital bathroom but the coroner says it appears he died as a result of a broken neck.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood says 54-year-old Philip Burgess's was discovered in a UnityPoint Health-Methodist bathroom early Friday by a hospital employee. He says an autopsy revealed a neck fracture.
"Mr. Burgess suffered a fracture in his fifth cervical vertebrae, likely contributing to his death," Harwood said. "It is unknown at this time if Mr. Burgess had suffered another seizure, causing him to fall."
The Peoria resident had been treated at the hospital on Thursday following a seizure. He was discharged and then he went into the bathroom, where his body was discovered early Friday.
Harwood says a further review of his medical records and toxicology are pending. It will take a few weeks to determine a final cause of death.
