Student found dead

A 19-year-old Penn State student was discovered dead by the State College Police Department Wednesday morning, according to a press release.

Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers pronounced Ryan Burns, of Bethel Park, dead at his residence on the 100 block of East Nittany Avenue.

Roommates at the apartment found Burns lying unresponsive on the sofa sometime after 4 a.m. Wednesday and called the police.

Lt. Diane Conrad of the State College police said Burns' roommates said he had not been feeling well for the past few days.

While police have not released a cause of death, the possibility of a bacterial meningitis infection or other threats to the public's health have been ruled out, Conrad said.

She added while the incident is unusual, police have responded to unexplained deaths of students before.

Burns had not been treated at University Health Services or any other Penn State health facility recently, said Cathy Kuprevich, University Health Services staff assistant.

Alcohol was not a factor in Burns' death, and foul play is not suspected.

Conrad said more lab results from the coroner's office will be available in several weeks.

--by Rachel Hanson