Wait till someone posts the Weather Reports/Forecasts for the time period of the crash.....I bet that will make for some very interesting reading and beg a few questions as well.
When he engaged the Autopilot....I bet he was very low...slow....and totally unprepared for IMC flight.
In daylight (roughly 0930 ), flying into IMC conditions constitutes a gross error in judgement. At night.....the tie goes to the runner.
I was a dedicated scunrudder.....and found myself setting in some odd places waiting for the weather to improve....but I always left myself a way out rather than go IIMC.