Hotel room robbed while teen was dying in hospital: friend

Last Updated: Thursday, January 11, 2007 | 3:23 PM ET

CBC News

The family of a 19-year-old Woodbridge, Ont., man killed in Mexico is asking the Canadian government to step in to help them get answers to their questions about his death.

Adam DePrisco, who was on vacation, was found dying beside an Acapulco highway early Sunday morning. He died Monday of severe head injuries.

Marco Calabro, his travel companion and close friend, has told family members that their hotel room was robbed as DePrisco lay unconscious in hospital.

Calabro also said there was a video camera outside the room, but he wasn't allowed to see the tape.

Mexican authorities said DePrisco died after a hit-and-run on a busy street, but Calabro and family members who rushed to his bedside reject that and believe he was beaten to death.

Luisa Pannozzi, DePrisco's cousin, said the family is devastated and desperate to know what happened to him.

"Our government is the only one who can push the Mexican authorities," Pannozzi said. "We can't fully grieve unless we know what happened to Adam."

Ontario coroner schedules autopsy

Ontario's chief coroner, Dr. Barry McLellan, has told the family an autopsy will be conducted on the body when it is returned to Canada on Friday.

"It's our hope that [the coroner's] work, along with X-rays that we have taken from Mexico, that he can tell us what has happened because really, they're our only hope," Pannozzi said.

DePrisco's aunt and uncle rushed to Mexico when they heard he'd been injured and said they were told by one doctor that the injuries were not consistent with being hit by a car. DePrisco had only head injuries, none on the body.

DePrisco visited a popular Acapulco nightclub with Calabro Saturday night, but was kicked out by security staff early the next morning.

Calabro told the family that DePrisco danced with a local woman, upsetting a Mexican man believed to be the woman's boyfriend.

Police asked for money: family

Pannozzi said Calabro also told them he saw blood being washed away from the spot where DePrisco was found that same night.

And when DePrisco's aunt and uncle went to a police station to file a report about his death, Pannozzi said, they had difficulties.

"They were not helpful," Pannozzi said. "At the end of filing papers, they were asked for money for their time."

DePrisco was saving money to start a tool-and-die apprenticeship this fall, Pannozzi said.

She described him as a "strong-willed kid" who worked hard for everything he had and "always smiled."

Pannozzi hopes he is not remembered for the way he died.

"Adam was alone and he was unarmed and he was by himself and I don't want people to remember him that way," she sobbed.