By Alex Robinson
The mystery of Avonte Oquendo’s death did not become any clearer Thursday when the city medical examiner concluded the cause and manner of the boy’s death was undetermined.
The 14-year-old autistic boy’s remains were found on the College Point waterfront in January after he vanished from his Long Island City school in October.
Video footage showed Avonte running through his school’s halls before bolting through an open door.
After his death was confirmed, a lawyer representing his mother, Vanessa Fontaine, said she intended to file a wrongful death claim against the city and the Department of Education.
Fontaine recently filed court papers challenging the Police Department’s denial of a Freedom of Information Law request her lawyer filed on her behalf in October that asked for any information about Avonte’s disappearance.
The NYPD was waiting to release information until the medical examiner made a determination, according to the family’s lawyer.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
