The University of Memphis campus police and Memphis Police Department are investigating a wallet found on Patterson near the Baptist Student Union.
The wallet belonged to U of M student and Kirby High graduate Kevin Hull, 28, who was found dead in his apartment Sunday morning in the Brister Square apartment complex on Midland.
Hull last attended The U of M in 2004 and had been an undecided junior.
“The cause of death is still pending the toxicology report. However, there was nothing to support a break in,” said Lt. Joe Scott, Memphis police homicide detective.
Scott also said that Hull’s apartment showed no evidence of a struggle and there were no indications of a homicide found.
“There was no sign of acute trauma on the body,” Scott said. “We believe that medication found near the body has something to do with the death. Either an accidental overdose or natural causes is the apparent cause of death pending the toxicology report.”
While the toxicology report should clear up questions about Hull’s death in six to eight weeks, how his wallet ended up several blocks from his apartment is still a mystery.
Journalism administration graduate student Tony Frascella found the wallet on Patterson near the sidewalk last Monday.
“It was open and inside up with receipts and pictures laying out of it on the ground,” Frascella said.
The wallet was turned into the office in the Meeman Journalism building, said Frascella.
Campus police responded the following Tuesday to investigate to determine if there was a connection with Hull’s death.
“They wanted to know where and how I found the wallet,” Frascella said.
While there is no clear explanation for Hull’s wallet appearing several blocks away from his apartment absent credit cards and cash, nothing criminal is suspected, said Scott.
“He could have lost it walking before his death for all I know,” Scott said. “We don’t suspect it was taken from his apartment after his death.”
Even though a simple good deed turned out to be a lot more then graduate student Frascella planned for, it is an experience that will always stay with him, said Frascella.
“When I found the wallet, I looked at the drivers license and noticed we had the same birthday,” Frascella said.
Frascella said that while he did not think much of it at the time, the coincidence hit home after hearing news of his fellow student’s death.
“Us having the same birthday makes it really sad for me,” Frascella said. “I’ll be celebrating my birthday next week while he will never see his.”
