Cause of death revealed for Venezuelan national found in NW Indiana ditch

A cause of death has been determined for a Venezuelan national whose body was discovered in a ditch off Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana last week.

What we know:

The body of 23-year-old Nelson Daniel Ramos-Rivas was found by a cleanup crew around 9:28 a.m. on Feb. 28 near the southbound ramp from U.S. 231 to southbound I-65 in Crown Point, Ind., according to a statement from the Lake County Coroner's Office.

A forensic autopsy conducted later that day confirmed Ramos-Rivas' identity through his fingerprints, and his family was notified. His death was ruled a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.

Ramos-Rivas' last known residence was in Tillamook County, Oregon.

What we don't know:

Officials have not determined where the shooting originally took place.

What's next:

Anyone with further information is urged to contact the Lake County Coroner's Office at 219-755-3265.

The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Indiana State Police.

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