New developments today in the case of a Scottish soldier found dead on a Miami sidewalk, while he was here visiting in March for the Ultra Music Festival.
The body of 22-year-old Private Shaun Cole was discovered the morning of March 29 along Biscayne Blvd in Miami. The Medical examiner has ruled blunt trauma to the head, as the cause of his death.
According to a Miami New Times report, surveillance video from a nearby traffic light showed Cole plummet head-first off of a two-story building.
Witnesses said they never saw Cole on top of a building but saw him running and bleeding, when he suddenly collapsed and died, according to local10.com.
Cole’s friends reportedly told police that they consumed cocaine, beer and other alcoholic drinks before he disappeared.
The medical examiner’s report confirms that Cole’s blood-alcohol content was .12. He also had traces of cocaine and various chemicals in his urine and blood, including ethylone, according to the examiner’s report.
Police say ethylone contains similar chemicals used in the synthetic drug flakka, and can cause users to hallucinate, have psychomotor agitation, anxiety or think they have superhuman strength.
Pte Cole of Edinburgh, served in the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1SCOTS).
Shortly before his death, he was in Sierra Leone assisting with the Ebola aid effort. He also served in Afghanistan. 1 SCOTS Commanding Officer said, “Cole achieved an extraordinary amount in a military career that was full of promise but was tragically cut short.”
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