The death of 14-year-old Andrea Francis is now being treated as a homicide after an autopsy found the Longdenville teenager died from manual strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head and aspiration pneumonitis. The post-mortem examination, conducted by pathologist Dr. Hubert Daisley, also documented injuries consistent with an assault. Andrea was found unresponsive in her bedroom on July 4, just days after receiving her Secondary Entrance Assessment results and securing a place at Cunupia High School. Police have since launched a murder investigation to identify the person responsible.

The findings have shifted the focus of the investigation after early reports suggested the teenager may have taken her own life. Investigators are now collecting forensic evidence, interviewing relatives and other potential witnesses, and retracing Andrea's final movements. Her father, Andy Francis, has denied harming his daughter and said he only learned of the autopsy findings through media reports because he had not yet received the official report. He has maintained his innocence as police continue their inquiries.