Grand Island police say death was medical, not homicide

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A man found dead outside a Grand Island home last month died from a ruptured artery in his brain that was likely caused by methamphetamine, not a homicide as investigators originally thought, police said Wednesday.

Grand Island police said their investigation found no evidence of criminal or negligence acts in the death of 37-year-old Devlin Kenney.

Police initially reported that Kenney had been assaulted, and his death was ruled a homicide. His body was found in a yard outside a Grand Island home.

An autopsy found methamphetamine in Kenney’s system that police say was a major contributing factor to the ruptured artery. They said they now believe he collapsed and hit a fence and the ground, causing him to bleed openly.

Police said they later concluded that two people obstructed their investigation and tampered with evidence related to Kenney's death and his reason for being at the house, which they believe to be drug-related.

Police said they've submitted referrals requesting charges of false reporting and tampering with evidence against 30-year-old Fernando Gonzalez and 31-year-old Rainy Anne Call, both of Grand Island. They're also recommending an intentional child abuse charge against Gonzalez because they say the actions took place in front of children.