A California family is desperately seeking information on the death of their teenage son. When Akul Dhawan, 18, left his family’s home to return to college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign after the winter holidays, no one thought it would be the last time they would see him. But the college freshman reportedly died after a night of partying, and his family wants answers.
A press release from the university noted friends contacted the University of Illinois Police around 1:20 a.m. January 20 after losing contact with Dhawan. The engineering student had allegedly consumed alcohol the evening before and, according to police, was denied entry to a club, after which his friends lost contact with him. His body was reportedly found less than 10 hours later on the steps of a university building.
More from CafeMom: Drunk ABC Producer Dax Tejera Choked to Death the Night He Left Kids Alone in Hotel Room
Dhawan and his friends were together shortly before he went missing.
Per police, Dhawan and friends were together at a university residence hall around 9 p.m. on January 19, where they consumed alcohol. He and his friends left and went to a club around 10 p.m. for an event until 10:45 p.m., then went to Green Street with friends.
“Security video obtained later showed him consuming more alcohol before the group returned to Canopy Club. Mr. Dhawan’s friends re-entered Canopy Club between 11:25 p.m. and 11:29 p.m. while Mr. Dhawan remained outside. He was denied entry by venue staff when he attempted to enter at 11:31 p.m. He continued to attempt to gain access to the venue multiple times, but was repeatedly denied by staff,” the release from university police reads.
The teen allegedly refused a ride back to campus.
According to the release, two separate rideshare vehicles were sent to pick up Dhawan, but he allegedly refused both rides. Later that evening, he stopped answering calls and texts from friends, who called the police. A search began for the missing freshman and continued until a university employee discovered his body the following day.
His parents blame the police for their son’s death.
In an interview with NBC News, Ish and Ritu Dhawan claimed their son was found just 500 feet from his last known location. Ish Dhawan told the news outlet that police were negligent in their search and that their son should have been found sooner, in which case his life could have been saved.
“If somebody’s reported missing, you go and you look,” Ish Dhawan said. “You mobilize people. When the temperature is minus Fahrenheit, every minute is precious.”
The family wants an independent investigation into their son’s death. “I don’t believe anything the police are saying,” Ish Dhawan told NBC News.
The parents claim their son was a fun-loving young man.
Their son died a few days after returning to school during winter break in California. He received a new Lego set that he and his father looked forward to assembling. The college freshman loved school and was excited about getting back to classes.
“I was FaceTiming him while he was filling his class registration, just a few days back,” his mother told NBC News. “He was so excited.”
More from CafeMom: Girlfriend Charged in College Student's Graduation Day Suicide After 'Abusive' Texts Emerge
The investigation into his death is ongoing.
According to a release from the Champaign County coroner, Dhawan’s body showed signs of hypothermia. Toxicology results are pending, and a final cause of death will not be released. The coroner did say that his body showed no obvious signs of trauma.
As the investigation continues, university police ask anyone with information to contact them at 217-333-1216.
