No Obvious Signs of Foul Play in Death of Landscape Architect

Authorities completed an autopsy on the body of a young man found in in a flood control channel next to San Clemente High School and found no obvious signs of foul play.

It remains unclear what killed 22-year-old Nicholas “Nick” Stevens, whose body was found by search and rescue dogs Saturday. Stevens had been missing for a week.

The Orange County Coroner completed the autopsy Tuesday, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock. The cause of death will depend on the the results of a toxicology report, he added.

The investigation is being handled as suspicious death.

Authorities were able to identify Steven’s body based upon facial comparisons to his driver’s license. He was found at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the flood channel between a fast food restaurant and the baseball field of San Clemente High School.

Stevens was last seen Nov. 6 at the 7-Eleven at 1802 N. E Camino Real.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photos: Orange County Sheriff’s Department