Hu Xinyu's disappearance in October from a private high school in China’s southeastern Jiangxi province became one of the most discussed topics on the Chinese internet, prompting questions about what happened to him and causing authorities to face criticism for not finding him despite extensive police searches.

Authorities in China said Thursday that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a 15-year-old boy whose body was discovered last week near his school after more than 100 days of going missing, ending a high-profile case that had gripped the country.

Hu Xinyu went missing in October from a private high school in China’s southeastern Jiangxi province. The teenager’s disappearance became one of the most discussed topics on the Chinese internet, prompting questions about what happened to him.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, deputy police chief of Jiangxi province Hu Mansong provided detailed information on the police investigation into Xinyu’s death — an unusually thorough account by the standards of Chinese authorities.

Mansong also acknowledged shortcomings in official search operations and accepted public criticism.

Authorities had faced criticisms for not finding the teenager despite extensive police searches that covered nearly 40 hectares (0.4 square kilometers) of woodland around the school campus.

The search operations also deployed sniffer dogs, drones and thermal imaging equipment, and mobilised thousands of people, before his body was discovered by a member of the public.

In recent months, baseless rumors surrounding Xinyu’s disappearance had run rampant, underscoring deep public distrust in Chinese authorities – partly the result of a lack of government transparency and years of worsening censorship.

The deputy police chief added on Thursday that police have arrested one person for spreading a video containing false information and handed out administrative punishment to three others for spreading rumors.