Authorities identify body on Cal Poly’s campus as Cuesta student

By Casi McIntyre
News Editor

Authorities have identified the body discovered recently on Cal Poly’s campus as that of Robert (Sean) Aversano, an 18-year-old first semester Cuesta student.

Autopsy results indicate the manner in which Aversono died was from blunt force trauma, authorities said, adding that no foul play was involved.

“The cause of death is pending toxicology results,” said Tony Cipolla, spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities have not yet determined if the death was natural, accidental or intentional and are waiting for more detailed autopsy results before ruling conclusively, Cipolla said.

“We’re waiting on the results, that will hopefully give us a few more answers,” Cipolla said, referring to the exact cause of death. “It could have been natural. He could have been climbing the tower and had a heart attack and then fallen off.”

A local hiker found Aversono’s body at the base of Cal Poly’s radio tower on Tuesday, Cipolla said. Authorities have reported that no one was with Aversano when he died.

This death comes at a time when university students are returning to school — and Sheriff’s and FBI officials were combing the Cal Poly hillsides for remains of Kristen Smart, a student who went missing 20 years ago.