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Police: ‘No physical signs of injury inflicted' on teen found unconscious in Central Park

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Winter Park police released more information Thursday in the death of 15-year-old Roger Trindade.

Trindade died in a hospital Monday after he was found unconscious in Central Park, following a confrontation with a group of teenagers, authorities said.

Winter Park police said in a statement, “Police and Fire/Rescue personnel arrived on scene within two minutes. At the time of arrival, Roger Trindade was found unconscious and the suspects had already fled the scene. There were no physical signs of injury inflicted on Roger Trindade and no physical evidence which would suggest he had been beaten.” %

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A 14-year-old witness told police that “skunk spray” started a fight in downtown Winter Park.

The witness, who was not identified, said he and a friend used the spray on Trindade and another person while they were walking on Park Avenue Saturday night.

Trindade, and the other teen, started chasing the witness and his friend, the 14-year-old told investigators.

Scared of what the victims of the skunk spray prank would do, the 14-year-old called for help and another group of teens showed up, the boy told his attorney.

The witness told investigators that one of the boys knocked Trinidade down with a punch and another punched him in the temple while he was on the ground.

Police did not say if that was where the attack ended or if Trinidade suffered further blows.

While police have identified all the individuals involved and are continuing to conduct a criminal investigation into what happened, investigators said: “Until we know what caused his death, we cannot make an accurate assessment of what criminal charges are appropriate.“

Winter Park Police Chief Michael Deal wrote that in cases with minors, "Law enforcement must be prepared to go to trial within 21 days of the arrest. If a law enforcement agency makes a premature arrest, the prosecutor will not have the benefit of the medical examiner's results or any potential forensic examinations at trial."

The 15-year-old was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died Monday night after his family decided to take him off life support, police said.

"We owe it to the family of Roger Trindade to present the strongest case for prosecution," Deal said.

Police are still trying to answer many questions in the case, including the exact cause of Trinidade’s death.

The Medical Examiner’s Office has completed an autopsy but said in a statement that it could take several weeks to release a conclusive cause of death.