VIDALIA &8212; After more than a week of agony, the family of Jonathan Edens will rest a little easier knowing the 19-year-old&8217;s death was an accident.

Pathologist Dr. Steven Hayne of Jackson

determined in his autopsy Edens&8217; death was the result of a crash caused by a collision with a deer on Louisiana 565 near the Bayou Cocodrie Bridge.

The results allayed the family&8217;s mounting concerns that foul play might have been involved.

&8220;I couldn&8217;t believe it was an accident, but now I do. It was just a tragic accident,&8221; John Edens, Jonathan&8217;s father, said Wednesday evening.

Law enforcement officials and family members mounted a search for Edens last week when the teenager failed to arrive at his parents&8217; house as promised Tuesday night. Edens&8217; truck was found Thursday morning, crashed into a tree with a dead deer lying in the back seat and the windshield smashed.

After a four-day search, Edens&8217; body was found Monday afternoon.

The elder Edens said he had not seen the autopsy report yet, but through talking with Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell Edens believed the trauma caused by the crash could have rendered his son all but incapacitated.

&8220;He probably had such severe brain damage that he didn&8217;t have any feeling, that would explain why he could have tramped around in his bare feet,&8221; Edens said.

The lack of sensation tells the Edens family that Jonathan didn&8217;t suffer, something that gives them all great relief.

&8220;I thank the Lord that, after knowing this, he probably didn&8217;t even suffer,&8221; Edens said. &8220;We&8217;re all at ease about it.&8221;

Jonathan&8217;s fianc/ Alisha Orcutt said she and her 21-month-old daughter Maddie would miss him.

&8220;She called him &8216;Daddy,&8217;&8221; Orcutt said. &8220;He helped me raise her from when she was 7

and one half months old until now.&8221;

Maxwell said in a statement that he believed the death was an accident but would keep the case open in case any new evidence surfaces.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Natchez. Edens will be buried at the Natchez City Cemetary.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Laird Funeral South Chapel on John R. Junkin Drive and from 10 a.m. until the start of the service Saturday.

Among the loved ones in town to bid Jonathan farewell is the family of Shirley and Butch Long of Dumas, Ark. Mrs. Lana Edens said &8220;they were like a second family to Jonathan&8221; and had generously helped with the arrangements.

The public is welcome to attend the funeral, family members said.