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Charred Body Found On Northern Illinois University Campus

DEKALB (CBS) -- Police and the DeKalb County Coroner have launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old Northern Illinois University student whose charred body was found on campus earlier this week.

Hasan Gill's uncle, Dr. Mohammed Arain, said his nephew was found dead in some bushes Tuesday morning in the 800 block of North 1st Street in DeKalb, and Gill had burns covering his entire body.

The university has said police do not believe there was foul play, and Gill's death likely was a suicide; but Arain said the family believes Gill might have taken drugs, or been drugged, and had a bad reaction, and someone then set him on fire to cover it up.

Arain said a container that had held flammable liquid was found nearby.

"We are convinced that that body was dumped there, and this burn scenario is just a cover-up," he said.

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The DeKalb County Coroner's office has said an autopsy is awaiting further forensic testing.

NIU spokesman Brad Hoy said police believe every indication points to suicide, although police are still waiting for toxicology results before anything is finalized.

Arain said the family does not believe Gill would have killed himself.

"The kid was very stable, and he was at my house on Sunday night for dinner; full of life, and very engaged, looking forward to the future," he said.

Arain said Gill was looking forward to graduating next spring with a degree in psychology.

"One more semester to go, a psychology major, very balanced kid, very balanced, never showed any signs of depression, or any problems," he said.

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