A 19 year old Northern Illinois University student died this weekend after falling eleven stories from his dormitory room window. Oluwarotimi "Timi" Okedina is believed to have removed the screen from the window in the Stevenson Towers residential complex Saturday night right before he fell.
DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said Okedina died early Sunday morning. The preliminary autopsy findings reveal Okedina died as the result of a fall. Toxicology samples have been sent to a private lab for testing. Once they have been returned to the Coroner's office, the cause of death will be released. The death is still under investigation by NIU police.
Visitation for Okedina has been set for Thursday at 3:00 pm at Smith-Corcoran Chapel in Chicago, with his funeral scheduled for Friday morning at 10:00.
Okedina was a sophomore at NIU and was majoring in Geology. He was also a poet, athlete, and artist. Okedina was born in Nigeria and raised in the Chicago-area. Okedina was a graduate of Maine east High School in Park Ridge.
A statement issued by Northern Illinois University Monday afternoon says NIU police are continuing their investigation into the death, and are are awaiting results of the cause of death investigation by the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office.
In the statement, the school says "the thoughts and prayers of the NIU community are with the family and friends of this student during this difficult time."
According to a Campus Update issued Sunday night by Eric Weldy, Vice President, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management:
To members of our university community:
I am saddened to share that on late Saturday evening, I was notified that a student had removed the window screen and apparently fell from the 11th floor at the Stevenson Towers residence hall on the NIU campus. The student was transported from the scene to Kishwaukee Hospital but passed away from injuries a short time later.
I and the entire university community are deeply saddened by this tragic news. To support our community, the university's Counseling and Consultation Services staff has been meeting with students and staff throughout the day, and the staff is available to any other members of the university family who may be in need of their services.
Counseling and Consultation Services is located in the Campus Life Building 200. The office can be reached by phone at 815-753-1206 and is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Our collective hearts and prayers are with the student's family and friends during this difficult time.