JERSEYVILLE -- A 17-year-old youth who was carrying a Bible and a cordless house phone when he was shot twice by police with a stun gun might have died from "a case of excited delirium," a medical examiner said today.

Roger D. Holyfield, a former student at Jersey Community High School, had been yelling, "I want Jesus," Saturday night in the 600 block of South State Street about 9 p.m.

When police approached him, he became combative and was shot twice with a Taser, according to the Jerseyville Police Department.

Dr. Phillip Burch, St. Louis’ deputy chief medical examiner, said he "didn’t see overt signs of trauma or foul play" during a preliminary autopsy. The autopsy won’t be complete for at least six weeks when toxicology results return.

"If it was excited delirium, he could have dropped dead without being Tased," Burch said.

Excited delirium, which could be brought on by mental illness or drugs, is a highly active mental state where a person is no longer able to control himself.

"They have superhuman strength in that state," Burch said. "Police want to control someone in that state, but they’re usually unable to."