COEUR D’ALENE-- New details have been released surrounding the death of Coeur d’Alene tribal member.
Investigators found Thomas Schoolcraft dead on May 18th on the tribe's land in Plummer.
Sources close to the investigation say determining just how Thomas Schoolcraft died is difficult because his autopsy is one you'll see once almost every six years,
There is still no cause of death. We're told the reason for this delay is a spinal cord injury in Schoolcraft’s neck.
Experts say a blood vessel ruptured and they're still trying to figure out if that was there before the night Schoolcraft died.
They also are working to see if that is what killed him, and if somebody intentionally caused that injury to hurt or kill Schoolcraft.
We’re told a ruptured vessel in the neck could be fatal.
Thomas Schoolcraft was found dead in this trailer may 18th. His cousin Joseph James is still in custody in the Kootenai County Jail.
James pleaded not guilty to criminal homicide under tribal law. We're told the two men were in this trailer after a night of drinking.
Officials say the two got into some sort of altercation, but they aren’t sure if they were fighting or just horsing around.
Investigators say they don’t know when they will have results.
Joseph James could also face federal murder charges once a cause of death is determined.
