Body of late Padam Rizal found, funeral service planned
After three months of investigation, the body discovered in Susquehanna River off Lower Windsor Township, Harrisburg (US) on Sunday was identified to be of Late Padam Rizal.
Dental records were used to confirm Rizal’s identity.
The Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni has ruled suicide as the cause of death. Diamantoni said Thursday he reached his conclusion on the cause of Rizal’s death following an “investigation of his mental health history and things he had said prior to that,” including interviews with family members.
The coroner said the investigation uncovered a video of someone jumping off the overpass “in close proximity to the time his car was identified at the site.”
The body was discovered by a fisherman on the river around 8:30 Sunday morning. Rizal was last seen by family about 2 p.m. February 21. His vehicle was found the next day on an Interstate-83 overpass that crosses the Susquehanna.
A family Facebook post reads, “He was a true patriot and a symbol of honesty, integrity, and community. Throughout his life, be it in Bhutan, Nepal, or the United States, he worked tirelessly to empower and educate many.”
The funeral services of Late Padam Rizal has been planned for Friday, the Bhutanese Community of Harrisburg notice reads.
In a statement Gov Tom Wolf said, “It is our sincere hope that Padam’s passionate dedication to his work to help others in the Asian Pacific American communities is not only his legacy, but also a comfort to his family and friends in this difficult time,” Wolf said. “Those of us who knew Padam are grateful for his many contributions to the commonwealth and will miss his indomitable spirit, kindness and compassion for all.”
Rizal served on Gov. Tom Wolf’s Pennsylvania Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.
