Authorities Work to Determine What Happened to North Carolina Teen Delvonte Tisdale

Nov. 22, 2010 — -- Authorities are working to determine how a high school sophomore ended up battered and dead on the side of a road more than 800 miles from his home in North Carolina.

Remains found in Milton, Mass., last Monday were identified as 16-year-old Delvonte Tisdale, according to the Norfolk District Attorney William Keating's public information officer David Traub.

How Tisdale got all the way from his home near Charlotte, N.C., to a quiet suburb of Boston is still unclear, as is who might be responsible for the teen's death.

"We have a dead 16-year-old," said Traub. "There are a number of questions that are still under investigation."

Tisdale's body was found on the side of a road and had "obvious, massive trauma to the body," according to Traub. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

Traub declined to comment on reports that Tisdale was found with his arms and legs broken and with visible damage to his head.

Authorities would also not comment on reports that a school hall pass had been found with Tisdale and had helped to identifiy him, saying only that fingerprints from Tisdale had been matched to items investigators had taken from his home in North Carolina.

Calls made to the Milton Police Department and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were not immediately returned.

According to ABC News' Boston affiliate WCVB-TV, Tisdale was one of 17 children, was a member of the ROTC at North Mecklenburg High School, and had no criminal history.

Delvonte Tisdale Mourned By His Family

Some of Tisdale's relatives have taken to Facebook to remember the teenager.

Tisdale's sister, Erica Holloway, reportedly wrote, "Today is the WORST DAY of my life, I just found out my brother delvonte tisdale was found dead."

Craig Tisdale, Tisdale's older brother, wrote on his Facebook page, "R.I.P...[You] will neva eva eva be forgotten I love you little brother."

Craig Tisdale told the Charlotte Observer that his brother may have been running away from his father, whom he did not have a good relatoinship with.

Tisdale's father, Anthony Tisdale, was unable to be reached for comment.

He said that Tisdale had planned to get a ride to Baltimore, where his mother lives, from friends heading to Boston, according to the paper.