Coroner rules Rosas’ death an ‘accident’

The mysterious death of 37-year-old Martin Rosas of Gonzales last August has finally been confirmed as an accident.

Deidra Voigt, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, said this week that the coroner with the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that Rosas’ death was caused by “hyperthermia with significant contributing factor of inhalant abuse,” and that the “manner was an accident.”

Voigt explained that “hyperthermia” should not be confused with “hypothermia,” as they are two totally different conditions.

“Hyperthermia occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can get rid of,” she said. “Hence, this happened outside in 103-degree heat.”

Hypothermia, by contrast, occurs when a body’s temperature drops below the required temperature to sustain normal metabolism and body functions, usually taking place in extremely cold temperatures.

Rosas’ body was discovered by a passerby amid tall grass in a drainage ditch near Espinosa’s restaurant at the intersection of Henry and Badger streets on Aug. 9. At the time, Gonzales police did not suspect foul play, but deferred to findings from the coroner’s office. Police, fire department personnel and Voight were at the scene, where Voight pronounced Rosas dead and ordered an autopsy.

Voigt also reported that the coroner’s office took more than eight weeks to provide her with the autopsy report.