It might be for some legal reasons until there is an official statement on the matter. In a similar way that journalists always have to say "allegedly" when talking a case that hasn't been closed. (IANAL obviously, neither a journalist)
The use of such qualifiers bother me, rather the inconsistent use of such qualifiers. The media often misses those when they are needed the most. For instance regarding Sherrod / WMD...Edit: Though I believe the examples will make my comment unpopular.
Cable news particularly abuses this trick to insinuate something that they can deny later when questioned.
If the medical examiner / coroner hasn't completed the death certificate, it would be correct to use "apparent". Otherwise, the article should say what's on the death certificate, unless the article is disputing the official findings.
