Cause of soldier’s May death undetermined

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s autopsy report of a Fort Sill soldier found dead at Lake Lawtonka the morning of May 2 found his cause of death to be undetermined.

The body of Benjamin Vanburen, 37, was discovered in shallow water near shore on the south side of the lake.

According to Medical Examiner Eric Duval’s report, Vanburen suffered blunt force injuries to his head but with no internal trauma. There were deep soft tissue hemorrhages of the front and back of his neck but no fractures.

Vanburen did suffer periorbital and conjunctival petechiae, or small lesions that can occur due to a number of possible reasons, to include: elevated blood pressure, infectious diseases like COVID-19, asphyxiation, seizures, violence and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to the National Institute of Health.

Duval also found that Vanburen had no drugs or alcohol in his system, according to the toxicology report.

While Vanburen’s death has been under investigation Army Criminal Investigation Division and Lawton Police Department, at the time he was discovered, investigators did not suspect foul play.