Family Plans Memorial for Dr. J's Son

S A N F O R D, Fla., July 8 -- While Florida authorities are still trying to figure out the cause of death of the son of NBA legend Julius Erving, family members are going ahead with plans to bury their 19-year-old son, whose body was found in a Florida pond after disappearing Memorial Day weekend.

Cory Erving, 19, will likely be buried in Philadelphia, where hespent his childhood and where his father spent most of his career.

However, a memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at theHeartland Community Church in Kissimmee, about 20 miles south ofOrlando. The service is to be open to the public.

Relatives and friends gathered at the Erving house in theexclusive gated community of Alaqua, north of Orlando, less than amile from where Cory’s body and car were found.

Authorities pulled Cory Marvin Erving’s 1999 black Volkswagen Passat out of a pond Thursday night. The body was found inside.

Few Clues

Investigators say there is no indication that the younger Erving committed suicide.

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Medical examiners conducted an autopsy Friday, but were unable to determine the cause or manner of death, said Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger.

Nothing in the physical examination of Cory’s body suggests that foul play was involved.

“There’s been no instrument or weapon found in the car, nothing at all that indicates it was a suicide,” Eslinger said at a press conference on Friday. “We don’t want to speculate on anything. We want to look at all possible scenarios.”

However, he stressed that the investigation was continuing, and that authorities are still waiting for a toxicology report on Cory.

Eslinger did say that the 19-year-old was found in the same clothes he was described as wearing when he was last seen May 28. Investigators have not found any eyewitnesses, but Eslinger said a series of interviews are being scheduled to determine if there were any.

A Family’s GriefEarlier Friday, Julius Erving confirmed that the body found in the pond was his son, and said his family would now go forward and cope with the loss.