Minnesota Gay 18 Year Old Lance Lundsten Death Officially Ruled Suicide;Speculation Anti-Gay Bullying Led To Suicide

KSAX-TV reports that Monday, Doctor Mark Spanbauer, the Douglas County Minnesota Medical Examiner, confirmed that death of 18 year old Lance Lundsten was a suicide. The ruling arrives after months of speculation and constant denials by his family, who contended the gay Jefferson High School senior died as the result of a medical condition, and not suicide. The toxicology report from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and MEDTOX, determined the cause of death to be mixed drug ingestion, according to Spanbauer."It was a mixed drug ingestion and suicide was the manner of death," Spanbauer said. Around 10:00 p.m. January 15th, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to an emergency call at the Lundsten's residence in Miltona. When officers arrived, they discovered 18-year-old Lance Lundsten needing emergency medical care. Lundsten was transported to the Douglas County Hospital where he later died. On January 18th, the Sheriff's Office said that the cause of Lundsten's death was yet to be determined. Authorities had been working with the Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. In an interview January 19th, Douglas County Medical Examiner Dr. Mark Spanbauer said the preliminary autopsy report showed the teen did not die from an enlarged heart. Family members had told the Alexandria Echo Press that they believed a medical condition, not suicide, was the cause of Lundsten's death. However, contrary to reports by the family and subsequently, the Alexandria Echo Press, Spanbauer said the preliminary autopsy report showed the cause of death was not yet determined. The teen's heart was slightly enlarged, but that finding was a secondary finding to an undetermined cause, according to Spanbauer. In January, Spanbauer said that Lundsten “was a small young man. His heart showed slight swelling. It was slightly enlarged. This was a secondary finding." According to his Facebook page, Lundsten was openly gay. On a Facebook memorial page in Lundsten's honour, friends said that he had been bullied at school for his sexual orientation. Some students who knew Lundsten believed the bullying may have led to his death. Another Jefferson High School student started a Facebook group in direct response to Lundsten's death called the Jefferson Anti-Bully Coalition. On Sunday, its founder, Morgan Hauer posted on the Jefferson Anti-Bully Coalition page, writing in part "So everyone, I may have started this group, but it really means nothing unless we take action. words, speeches and petitions can get us far, but the only real way to stand up to bullying is to stop bullying other people, stand up for those being bullied and let authoritative figures know whets going on. without you, this whole idea is pointless and a very beloved schoolmate will have died in vain. Don't let that happen, we owe at least that much to Lance and everyone else who is, was, or will ever be bullied.” Since the story's initial report, a gay recent graduate of Jefferson High School student told KSAX-TV about his experiences, and how he was bullied at the school and that no one did anything to stop the torment. "Bullying is a huge issue, particularly with the youth in our country now," Facilitator of the Diversity Resource Action Alliance Shari Maloney said. "I think because we're in central Minnesota, and we aren't as diverse as some of the larger Metropolitan areas are, someone who is different maybe draws more attention and it's not always positive."Maloney said she works everyday to make Alexandria a more accepting place for community members and visitors. She said she has seen improvement, but there is still a long way to go. "I think we are a welcoming community, but I think we are also a very traditional community as well," Maloney said. "As the world changes, I'm not sure if we're changing."