Autopsy results on the body of Valerie Hamilton found no signs of physical trauma, but police investigators did find evidence of potential drug use, a CMPD spokesman said Tuesday.

Detectives are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests and a sexual assault examination kit. But based on a medical examiner's early findings, investigators have no reason to believe that Hamilton died of gunshot wounds, stab wounds, strangulation or bludgeoning.

Hamilton, a 23-year-old student at Central Piedmont Community College and the daughter of Concord police Chief Merl Hamilton, went missing Sept. 15 after leaving the Thomas Street Tavern in Plaza Midwood. Her body was found three days later inside a storage shed on Monroe Road.

Police charged 34-year-old Michael Neal Harvey, a convicted sex offender, with murder. Harvey was arrested Monday in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where he had fled in a stolen Chevy Blazer.

In news reports since his arrest, some of Harvey’s friends have insisted that he did not kill Hamilton but may have panicked and hid her body.

Police said Tuesday they believe Hamilton left the bar voluntarily with Harvey and that the two may have engaged in drug use. Given the autopsy report, police said they are investigating to "ensure that appropriate charges are filed."

Police said Harvey didn't seek medical attention for Hamilton even though other people urged him to do so.

They also said in a statement that Harvey tried to "conceal her death and made great efforts to clean up any potential crime scenes before he disposed of her body."

Harvey appeared in court in New York on Tuesday, an hour before hundreds attended a memorial service to honor Hamilton in Concord.

Read more at CharlotteObserver.com.
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The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.

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