Advertisement

DA: N.C. Teen Found In Milton Likely Fell From Plane

A Massachusetts prosecutor says it's likely that a North Carolina teen whose mutilated body was found in Milton fell from the sky after stowing away in an airplane wheel well.

Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating says police searched the area Friday in Milton where 16-year-old Delvonte Tisdale was found last month, and they found sneakers and a shirt matching clothing his family said he'd worn.

He said the items were found along a path a Boston-bound plane would have taken while approaching Logan International Airport. Keating said authorities believe Tisdale hid in the airplane.

"It appears more likely than not that Mr. Tisdale was able to breach airport security and hide in the wheel well of the plane without being detected by airport security personnel," Keating said.

Police found no evidence of foul play but did find trauma consistent with a fall from significant height.

"This was something that sounded quite remote as possibly occurring, that someone could breach security of a commercial jet to secret themselves aboard undetected and to have this happen," Keating said.

Keating said it causes great concern that the teen could get by airport security. The Transportation Security Administration says it will conduct a review.

Tisdale's body was found less than 24 hours after he was last seen in Charlotte, N.C.

This program aired on December 10, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

Advertisement

More from WBUR

Listen Live
Close