Autopsy: UNC student's death was accident

A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student who was found dead in his off-campus apartment in February died from inhaling a lethal amount of a chemical used in aerosol cans, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday.

Posted 8:23 p.m. May 8, 2013 — Updated 8:23 p.m. May 8, 2013

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student who was found dead in his off-campus apartment in February died from inhaling a lethal amount of a chemical used in aerosol cans, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday.

Stedman Gage, 22, of Wilmington, was the son of former UNC Board of Governors Chairwoman Hannah Gage. His death was ruled an accident.

The autopsy found Stedman Gage had a toxic level of 1,1-difluoroethane, which is used as a propellant in aerosol cans. Low levels of narcotics also were found in his system.

Investigators said his friends called police after they found him lying face down in his bed on Feb. 22. The friends said they had been trying to get in touch with him before going to his apartment at 407 W. Patterson Place in Chapel Hill.

Stedman Gage was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at UNC-Chapel Hill

Suggest A Correction