An autopsy done Wednesday on Jonas Bevacqua has failed to determine a cause of death for the 33-year-old cofounder of the Irvine-based clothing maker Lifted Research Group Inc.
Bevacqua died Monday at his home in Laguna Beach.
Medical examiners now are awaiting results of blood and toxicological tests, which could take six to eight weeks.
Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Deparment have ruled out homicide in the death.
Bevacqua started LRG with Robert Wright and Charlie Moothart in 1999.
The company has estimated yearly sales of about $200 million and makes clothes inspired by hip-hop music, urban fashion and skateboarding.
LRG competes with big names such as Iconix Brand Group Inc.’s Rocawear, Rock of Ages LLC’s Live Mechanics, and Coogi.
Bevacqua was LRG’s creative director. He was known for his fashion sense, often wearing flashy clothes, hats and oversized jewelry.
In 2007, LRG was honored by the Business Journal as one of the county’s fast-growing private companies.
Bevacqua accepted the honor at an awards ceremony, impressing the crowd of businesspeople with his eloquence and flare.
He said his design sense came partly from his family life. Bevacqua grew up one of eight children, seven of whom were adopted, all of different ethnicities.
Bevacqua, who was adopted, was of Vietnamese descent.
LRG has strong ties to hip-hop music. Many stars of the genre served as models for the company’s fashion ads.
The company also had ties with a number of professional athletes, including basketball player Rudy Gay and football’s Reggie Bush, among others.
LRG designs and markets its clothes from a 110,000-square-foot facility in Irvine. The complex includes a skateboarding area in the warehouse and a basketball court and a weight room.
Most of the company’s employees are in their 30s or younger. Many are friends of the cofounders or friends of friends.
