The University community mourned the death of a friend who was described as “friendly and giving” Thursday.
Brock Everette Manuel was found dead in his off-campus apartment Wednesday by his roommate Art Wilson.
Wilson, a bio-chemistry sophomore, said he knew Manuel, an electrical engineering sophomore, did not feel well. But he said he never thought Manuel’s illness was serious.
“We thought it was just regular symptoms of having the flu — throwing up and headaches,” Wilson said.
The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Manuel’s body Thursday. The autopsy revealed Manuel’s cause of death was sepsis.
Sepsis is a condition caused by an immune system response to an infection, according to www.sepsis.com. The infection usually is caused by a host, such as a virus.
Wilson said the only strange thing he thought when he returned to his Fontainbleau apartment on Highland Road Wednesday was that Manuel had been sleeping too long.
“It was 3 o’clock [p.m.],” Wilson said. “I was thinking, ‘He’s been sleeping a long time.'”
When Wilson went into Manuel’s room, he found his roommate dead.
A rumor that Manuel died from meningitis circulated through campus Thursday, but the coroner’s office denied any claims about that illness.
Coroner Don Moreau said it is uncertain at this point if Manuel’s case of sepsis was contagious. To determine that, Moreau said the host that was extracted from Manuel’s body must be grown in a currie dish.
This process could take up to a week.
Many of Manuel’s friends anxiously are waiting for further results as they cope with his death.
While they wait they remember what they loved about Manuel.
Wilson said he wants people to remember his roommate’s cheerfulness and character.
“He was a real friendly guy — fun to be around,” he said. “He was cautious but funny.”
Jessalyn Crossley, a finance sophomore, said Manuel was her first friend in college.
“My freshman year at LSU, we had our first class together,” Crossley said. “He made it a lot easier for me.”
Haywood Boyd, a petroleum engineering sophomore, said one quality described Manuel’s life — his generosity.
“If there was anything I needed and he had it — he would give it to me,” Boyd said. “He was just that kind of person.”