I said it in one of the previous threads, but I think it is worth repeating: often, when there is significant decomposition,
drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion. They have to rule everything else out first.
Here is a good read on the subject:
Immersion deaths and drowning: issues arising in the investigation of bodies recovered from water
Maddox was not found for nearly a week -- 6 days. And it was still warm weather during the days he was missing. There could have been significant decomp and possibly animal activity by the time he was found. JMO.
As for it taking weeks or months to finalize a cause of death-- not unusual in my opinion based on observations of other cases on this board.
Jake Wilson (also autistic) was found in a river Aug 16, over two months later we don't have cause of death:
Found Deceased - IA - Jake Wilson, 16, La Porte City, 07 Apr 2018 *autistic*
Timothy Cunningham drowned (suicide). His body was ID'd on Apr 5th, They gave a preliminary cause of drowning but had to wait on toxicology. Official cause of death and toxicology took over a month and was reported in press May 24:
Found Deceased - GA - Timothy Cunningham, 35, Chamblee, 12 Feb 2018 #2
Blake Smith accidentally drowned after he sustained a head injury from a car accident. He went missing Feb 3rd and found only 2 days later. The autopsy was done on Feb 6th but it was not complete and released to the public until Feb 27th:
Found Deceased - TN - Blake Smith, 20, Knoxville, 3 Feb 2018
Denise Martin drowned (suicide). She was found about a week after she went missing in June. Official cause of death was not released until Sept 24th:
Found Deceased - Va - Denise Martin, 22, Virginia Beach, 19 June 2018
In all of the above cases posters continued to speculate that a delay in reporting the autopsy was somehow suspicious or indicated foul play may have occurred. There were crazy government conspiracy theories about Timothy Cunningham's death. There were people suspecting Blake Smith was rebellious and killed by a lover (no one else was involved and he was a good kid with no drugs in his system). After Denise was found people were still posting theories about how she might have been abducted. None of the cases turned out to be suspicious (not including Jake who we are still waiting on but no mention of foul play has been made by authorities-- and in that case as well people continue to give a side-eye to the parents).
My opinion only, of course, but based on all of the above cases I have come to believe that a lack of info does not equal suspicion. If anything, it may indicate the opposite. If there were any
preliminary signs of foul play they would be making more pleas to the public for tips and info or making moves towards an arrest. There have not been any new requests for tips since the presser where they ID'd Maddox. On Oct 3rd they thanked the public for their help and said they had a timeline and evidence Maddox was in the park and said they awaited autopsy results:
Gastonia Police Department
On Oct 18th they thanked the public for being patient and again reiterated they are waiting on the autopsy and toxicology:
Gastonia Police Department
This is a child, so emotions are high. But if LE have no clear COD from the prelim, they have to do their due diligence and wait for toxicology before ruling it either accidental or suspicious. To make any kind of statement without clear evidence would be irresponsible and could damage the public trust if they ended up being wrong. JMO.