The death of an Egg Harbor Township teen found dead after he was thrown out of a strip club and assaulted has been ruled an accident.
Irving Mayren-Guzman, 19, died of hypothermia and drowning with acute alcohol intoxication, according to the autopsy obtained by BreakingAC.
While the earlier assault caused injuries to his face, arms and legs, there is "no evidence of current or old traumatic brain injury," the forensic pathologist wrote.
Mayren-Guzman was found dead in the marsh off Delilah Road on Jan. 25, two days after he went missing from the club.
During an argument, Mayren-Guzman is allegedly seen being punched and kicked by the men. They go back inside, leaving him with security personnel.
After a few minutes, Mayren-Guzman is seen running away from the business east on Delilah Road toward Atlantic City.
The community has come out in force for Mayren-Guzman and his family, pushing for the club's closure and calling for murder charges against the three men.
"What this autopsy shows it that my client and his co-defendants had nothing to do with the tragic passing of (Mayren-Guzman)," said Durann Neil, the attorney for Garnell Hands Jr. "We feel — and the evidence now shows — that our clients are being scapegoated for the death due to outside pressures and protests."
He has filed a motion to have his client's detention hearing reopened as a result of the findings. Attorneys for John Hands and Timberlake told BreakingAC that they also plan to file similar motions.
The autopsy notes "faint contusions of cheeks and forehead, and contusion of knees and shins," as well as abrasions to his arms. But "there is no evidence of acute traumatic injury on internal or external examination."
"It confirmed what we thought all along, it’s a tragic and accidental death," said Matthew Portella, the attorney for John Hands.
"It’s a sad situation all around," he said. "A young man who had his whole life ahead of him tragically dying, while three men who really aren’t connected to the death are sitting in jail."
"The results ... demonstrated what my client and I already knew," said Timberlake's attorney, John Stein. "That his alleged conduct was not a contributing factor in the tragic death of the young man."
Portella also questioned why it took so long for the autopsy to be finalized. It was completed Jan. 26, with toxicology reports finalized March 7. But the autopsy results were not signed until June 10, with the defense receiving the report this week.
It found Mayren-Guzman's blood-alcohol level was above .10.
"Mr. Mayren died due to being heavily intoxicated, which is the fault of the bar owner," Neil said.
A lawsuit filed by Mayren-Guzman's family claims Centerfolds was "complicit in the tragic events leading up to Irving’s death,” attorney Randolph Lafferty said at a news conference announcing the suit in March.
The lawsuit claims Centerfolds was negligent in its employee training, allowing Mayren-Guzman to drink underage, and then standing by as he was beaten. He was then forced him to face the elements injured, drunk and without his phone, the suit alleges.
Some have questioned why no one saw Mayren-Guzman's body in the marsh during two days of extensive searches. The autopsy indicates his body was "submerged underwater during episodes of high tide."
His body was recovered "encased in thick mud in marsh in below freezing temperatures."
"Now that we have the autopsy report, it sheds a lot of light on the case and answers a lot of questions," Portella said. "I'm
hoping that it gives Irving’s family some of the closure and answers they’ve been looking for."
The case is due back in court next week.
Mayren-Guzman's family and supporters are expected to rally outside the courthouse that day. The group showed up last week when a status conference was scheduled. It was postponed to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A Justice4Irving website was also set up for tips and support.
