Hometown farewells Otto Warmbier

The life of a 22-year-old US student who died this week after being detained for nearly a year and a half in North Korea will be celebrated by his hometown in Ohioas friends and neighbours struggle to deal with his loss.

Wyoming officials say the service for Otto Warmbier in the Wyoming High School auditorium will be open to the public on Thursday, but not to the media.

The Hamilton County coroner is still trying to determine the cause of Warmbier's death on Monday. The University of Virginia student was accused in January 2015 of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting North Korea.