WEST POINT — Alex Michael Anderson died cold. And then he stayed cold. The gully near the Middle Fork Mokelumne River where the 15-year-old’s body was found Jan. 23 lies in deep shade. It had been cold enough over the previous month or so that his remains were “well preserved” and it may be impossible to ever tell exactly when he died, said Calaveras County Coroner Kevin Raggio. Anderson’s mother, who lives not far away, said she last saw her son alive several weeks before Thanksgiving.
Anderson might have died in December. Maybe even on Christmas. And it might even have been the cold that killed him. Raggio said an autopsy and X-rays found no broken bones, no bruises to suggest violence. Investigators say toxicology reports due in a few weeks might or might not offer clues to what killed the boy.
But while authorities may never know exactly what killed Anderson, his mother and teachers do know something about why he was perpetually outside, homeless and a runaway. Katie Anderson and others who knew her son agree he disliked being indoors, whether in school or in court. What he loved were animals, wildlife and fishing.
“I know that my son was found in the woods. He’s the original survivor man. I don’t think he just walked out there and was high and died,” Katie Anderson said.
Read Saturday’s Record for more on this story from staff writer Dana Nichols.