Kristin Cavallari‘s brother Michael Cavallari was exposed to cold temperatures before he died in Salt Wash, Utah, Grand County Sheriff Steven White tells Us Weekly in a new update on Friday, Dec. 11.
Michael, who was 30 years old, was found dead in a “steep and very rocky area” on Thursday, Dec. 10, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, says White. The sheriff tells Us that Michael was most likely exposed to frigid weather in an area that averages temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s during the day. At night, temperatures dip to the teens.
“We definitely think that’s a contributing factor,” White tells Us. “But [we] won’t know until we get the autopsy report.”
According to the sheriff, there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol, nor was there any indication of major trauma or a possible suicide. It’s still unclear how Michael crashed his 2014 Honda Civic, the sheriff tells Us of the vehicle, which was found — still running — down a dirt path off the I-70 highway.
As was revealed on Thursday, the car looked like it had hit a rocky ditch after veering off the highway, and its airbags were deployed.
Michael was last seen the day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, Nov. 27, and had been reported missing for three days before search crews found his body. White described the area to the Daily Mail on Thursday as a “very steep slope, kind of rocky, with boulder fields around it.”
“He was kind of on the slope itself,” White said of Michael’s body. “He was not too far from the bottom, but he was actually on the slope itself.”
His devastated younger sister Kristin, 28, meanwhile, released a statement to Us Weekly on Thursday confirming that Michael’s body had been found. “We want to thank everyone for their love, support and prayers during this very difficult time,” the Hills alum, now a mother of three, told Us. “We have just been informed by the authorities my brother’s body has been found. This is a very painful time and we are still processing it all. We kindly ask everyone please respect our privacy during our time of grieving.”
She also penned an emotional note Thursday afternoon. “My heart is in a million pieces,” Kristin captioned a childhood snap of the two siblings. “Mikey, I could always count on you to make me laugh. You had such a good heart and will be forever missed. I’m at a loss for words but I know u are in a better place and finally at peace. I love u so much RIP.”
As previously reported by Us, Michael was arrested on Nov. 23, four days prior to his disappearance, for making criminal threats.
White tells Us that it will take about six to eight weeks to get back the autopsy and toxicology results.
