Sheriff’s Officials Can’t Pinpoint What Caused Teen Hiker’s Death

Sheriff’s officials said Friday that they couldn’t determine what caused the death of a 17-year-old hiker whose decomposed body was found this summer in Joshua Tree National Park.

They closed an investigation into foul play and listed as “undetermined” the cause of Eric Sears’ death. Toxicology tests found the presence of drugs in the Carlsbad teen’s body, but the levels could not be determined because of the body’s decomposition.

Ben Fogelstrom, 17, of Carlsbad, who had been camping with Sears, told authorities that he and Sears drank a tea made from jimson weed, according to an affidavit.

Authorities, drawing on what they said were conflicting statements, obtained a search warrant for Fogelstrom’s home.

During a polygraph exam, Fogelstrom said he couldn’t recall when or where he last saw Sears, then later changed his story and began crying.

Sears and Fogelstrom were recent high school graduates who worked together at a restaurant. They went camping July 14. The next day, Fogelstrom, wearing only boxer shorts, turned up at a ranger station and reported Sears missing, authorities said.

Sears’ body was found July 23 in a rugged area of the park.