Stress, Starvation Likely Killed Teen in Jungle

A London teenager who vanished from a remote resort in Malaysia earlier this month likely died as a result of starvation and stress just over a mile from her family, according to an autopsy. The findings back up a police theory that 15-year-old Nora Quoirin, born with a neurological disorder that impaired her speech and coordination, wandered off from the Dusun resort in a nature preserve on Aug. 4 during a two-week family vacation. Her family feared Nora was abducted, saying she "never goes anywhere by herself." However, a police official in Seremban says Nora's body, found Tuesday down a ravine a little more than a mile from the resort, indicated she died from "internal bleeding from a ruptured ulcer in her intestine, possibly caused by prolonged starvation or stress" after seven days in the jungle, per the Guardian.

Nora, last seen in her hotel room wearing only underwear, was unclothed with bruises on her legs. But so far there is no evidence to suggest an abduction or sexual assault, police say, per CNN. One of several local hikers to find the body said Nora was lying with her head on her hands beside a stream, per the Malay Mail. "It looked like she was sleeping." Irish-French parents Meabh and Sebastien can now bring Nora's body to the UK. "She is the truest, most precious girl" and "the cruelty of her being taken away is unbearable. Our hearts are broken," the family says in a statement. They add, "Nora has brought people together, especially from France, Ireland, Britain and Malaysia, united in their love and support for her and her family. She has truly touched the whole world." (More Malaysia stories.)