Update: Bethesda Teenager Died from Acute Alcohol Intoxication

Update, 4 p.m.: The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore has ruled Navid Sepehri’s death as accidental. The cause of his death was due to acute alcohol intoxication complicated by drowning and hypothermia, a Montgomery County police statement said.

Navid, 17, lived on Radnor Road in Bethesda.

Original post: A 17-year-old boy who was found dead in a wooded area in Bethesda had been seen by police near a party that took place on Elgin Lane, a Montgomery County police statement said.

The boy, Navid Nicholas Sepehri of Radnor Road, was found in a stream at the bottom of a ravine near the 6500 block of Laverock Lane, police said.

“At this time, there is no indication of foul play involved in Sepehri’s death,” the police statement said.

Police said about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Bethesda District officers had responded to the 6500 block of Elgin Lane. Teenagers were drinking and becoming disorderly.
When police arrived, they saw a group of about six boys standing in the roadway, some of whom ran away when officers approached them.

Officers spoke with the ones who remained, and one was later identified as Sepehri, police said.

At least one of the boys said there had been a party at a nearby home and when the parents realized that uninvited guests had brought alcohol, the parents asked everyone to phone for rides home, police said. The boys explained to officers that they were now waiting for their parents to come and pick them up.

Officers recognized that Sepehri may have been under the influence, and the boys said Sepehri would leave when they left, police said. The officers determined there were no criminal or civil charges to place against the boys, and the officers then went to speak with the adults of the home.

Police spoke to a man who was standing in front of the home where the party took place. The man confirmed the boys’ story. The officers walked with the man to the back of the home where it appeared the party, in part, had taken place, police said. The officers did not see any evidence that the party was continuing.

About 3:20 a.m. Sunday, Sepehri’s father had come to the Bethesda District station regarding his son not coming home Saturday night. The father met with an officer; no missing person report was taken at that time, police said.

About 12:46 p.m. Sunday, officers took a missing person report for Sepehri, and a police search was initiated, aided by cell phone information for Sepehri’s phone provided by his family, police said. About 5 p.m., Sepehri was found deceased in the stream in the ravine, police said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Sepehri’s death.

This remains an ongoing death investigation. Anyone with information who has not spoken with detectives is urged to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.

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