Student found dead

The body of an ACC student found dead inside a parked car outside Northridge Campus showed no signs of trauma or foul play, according to reports from Austin police and school officials.

John Kevin Stewart-Smith, 18, was discovered shortly before 6 p.m. on March 28.

"There's no reason to expect anything suspicious," said Toni Chovanetz, spokeswoman for the Austin Police Department.

Exact time and cause of death is unknown pending toxicology results from the medical examiner, although it has been suspected that Smith died accidentally.

Final results are not expected for at least six to eight weeks, according to the Travis County Medical Examiner.

Until the toxicology examination, Austin police cannot say what caused Stewart-Smith's death. The case is currently being investigated as a "deceased person," or a non-suspicious death, which includes accidents, suicides, and other non-homicides.

Patrol officers cordoned off the area where he was found, discouraging a crowd of students alerted by police presence from nearing while investigators searched the area.

It is not known whether Stewart-Smith was reported missing or how long he was there before being discovered.

A makeshift memorial appeared at the parking lot the following day after students placed flowers in remembrance. The memorial has since been removed.

"There are a lot of people that loved the guy," said ACCPD Officer Lucy Neyens.

After the discovery many students and faculty came to the campus police office looking for information about Stewart-Smith, Neyens said.

"He was a good friend of mine, I worked with him," said ACC student Dulcenea Garcia.

Stewart-Smith was known around Northridge as a popular and friendly person. Garcia said that she wanted friends to remember him as a good person.

His ashes will be spread in his native Germany, Garcia said.