A student from the University of Iowa is among the 20 dead in the Midwestern Deep Freeze



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Officials of the local Medical Examiner's Office stated that they had performed an autopsy, but that they had not obtained the final results and would not disclose information about the cause of death until they would not have done it. Police at the University of Iowa said the investigation was continuing, but that Gerald Belz's death would be weather-related.

Student in pre-medicine, he had been in contact with his girlfriend, Leeanne Mehring-Cruz, by SMS. and Snapchat's video in the hours leading up to his death, but dropped out of social media around 1am.

Ms. Mehring-Cruz, who lives in Cedar Rapids, said she saw Gerald Belz for two years. She described him as gentle and brilliant, someone who has shown his sweet side only to his family and closest friends. One of the last things he said last night, she said in an interview with Twitter, was that he loved being with him all the way through his career.

"I would have liked to be able to protect him at that time," she said.

Ms. Mehring-Cruz said she hoped the police would quickly find out where he was going and what had happened to him. "I have no idea what he was doing," she said. "The last messages we sent were" I love you and good evening. "

Michael Belz stated that Gerald, the eldest of his two sons, was a careful, compassionate, studious and passionate rugby player who wanted to become a doctor. He was already early in college because he had completed Advanced Placement in high school.

He played football in high school, but then turned to rugby. "He loved it, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wanted to protect him and keep him safe," said the father. "He had a good time with that."

The Belz saw their son last Sunday while he was at home. The snow had begun to fall and Michael Belz had advised him to return to the campus before things got too slippery.

Then Gerald picked up his belongings, said goodbye and went back to his dormitory. Around 10 pm he called his mother to give him the usual assurance that he had arrived safely.

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