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Photographs and notes are placed at a memorial for Canadian actor Cory Monteith outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver on July 15, 2013.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press

Vancouver police will retain control of the 21st-floor hotel room in which Glee star Cory Monteith's lifeless body was found for "as long as it takes," as they await the rising Canadian actor's autopsy results.

The B.C. Coroners Service announced Monday it will conduct an autopsy and toxicology testing to determine the cause of Mr. Monteith's death. A preliminary update is expected Tuesday, though the results themselves will not be available for at least several days.

Barbara McLintock, a coroner's spokeswoman, said there could also be a need for further tests.

The sudden death of Mr. Monteith, the Victoria-raised actor whose portrayal of quarterback-turned-crooner Finn Hudson on the hit television show earned him worldwide fame, has drawn shock and condolences. A memorial has sprung up outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, where he took his final breath.

More information has arisen on what the 31-year-old Hollywood star was doing in B.C. at the time of his death. The Globe and Mail has learned he took part in a strenuous hike on Vancouver Island, and also stopped at a motorcycle retailer, The Shop Vancouver. He came into the store last Sunday with a couple of friends and stayed for about 20 to 30 minutes, said shop co-owner Brett Beadle.

"He seemed like a really great guy," said Mr. Beadle, who gave Mr. Monteith a shop T-shirt. "He seemed fine; just having a normal Sunday."

Derrick Mensch, who's participating in a charity boxing event known as Aprons for Gloves, was holding a fundraiser at the shop when Mr. Monteith walked in. He said he had no idea who Mr. Monteith was when he spoke with him, but in an interview described him as "really polite."

"He just seemed like a normal guy," Mr. Mensch said.

Sergeant Randy Fincham, a Vancouver police spokesman, said Monday that police are still at the hotel and have control of the room where Mr. Monteith was found. He said police will continue to hold the room until they've been given the all-clear by the coroner.

Police have said it does not appear there was foul play.

Mr. Monteith's substance-abuse problems were well documented. He had previously spoken of his drug and alcohol use as a teenager and sought help for substance addiction earlier this year.

Police and the coroner are still piecing together the events leading up to his death. Police have told The Globe that Mr. Monteith was in his hotel room with three friends Friday night. The four then headed to a downtown establishment, and Mr. Monteith returned to his hotel room alone around 2:15 a.m., police said.

His body was discovered around noon Saturday, after he missed his checkout time. His death was announced by police and the B.C. Coroners Service at a news conference Saturday night.

Mr. Monteith had checked into the hotel on July 6. Police and the coroner have declined comment on what was discovered in his hotel room, or where his body was found.

Vancouver police held a Q&A with reporters on Monday on Mr. Monteith's death. However, there was little in the way of new information.

Sgt. Fincham said that's by design. He said investigators have to hold back information in case the probe ever becomes a homicide investigation. To be clear, he added, there's no evidence that it will.

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