Head injury, broken bones etc.
I don't know why it would be classified as an accident and not from natural causes if she died from exposure. I think the ME is just pulling stuff and I think that's wrong.
Skeletal remains don't have any soft tissue left.
I took her cause of death to be lack of food and exposure, but the police labeled it an accident, meaning they don't think somebody killed her. That might mean she fell and broke a hip, leg, back, etc.. and wasn't able to save herself. Something happened to her physically to cause her to just lay there and die from exposure/lack of food.
If you die from exposure, would that ever be considered natural causes? I would think that would always be classified as an accident.
Interesting...I never knew that.
I can't imagine that her death with quick or painless. Berm-you brought up a good point about her possibly breaking a bone and being physically unable to leave that area. That is really sad.
This is so very sad.
Huh, that actually makes it more confusing for me. So she was really close by where she was supposed to be, but lost, but somehow died from hunger and thirst next to water, which takes more than enough time for her to have figured out where she was?
If she was in the tent...in a sleeping bag, how do they know she starved to death and did not have a stroke or heart attack?
Originally posted by animosity:
Hmu next time, we'll have some soapy gins and then draw each other naked. Until we get kicked out.
I think, just like the two girls in Panama, they are going with the course of least resistance. It's very possible that something medical could have happened, but in the end they KNOW that death will occur without food and water and there wasn't an unlimited source...so they just go with that for COD.
I bet she died of a heart attack or something in her sleep. A super outdoorsy person who has hiked hundreds of miles doesn't just zip herself up in her tent and die when she's that close to a water source and only a little lost. I bet she stopped and set up camp for the night and died in her sleep.
Here's the official autopsy report.
http://www.pressherald.com/2016/01/2...tent/document/
I know this still confuses some of the hikers over on the AT forum. She was considered very experienced and they don't understand how she could venture away from the safe zones. I think it's very possible she could have experienced some type of medical issue during the hike, became confused, got lost, set up her tent to regroup later, but died in her sleep from the previous medical condition. No organs left for the medical examiner to determine exactly what medical issue she had.
I don't think she wandered off the trail confused unless it had something to do with a medical condition. She was in her right mind enough to build a sleeping platform and set up camp, then again that was probably second nature for her. Investigators don't mention that she had run out of provisions, although it is mentioned she was supposed to meet up with her husband and get more supplies; perhaps she did run low and the campsite scene reflects that. Her time of death can not be pinpointed exactly so perhaps she did wander about for a few days and succumbed due to lack of nutrients. If she had an undiagnosed diabetic condition for example, lack of food for even just a couple of days could be deadly. As for her not leaving the trail...well she seemed like a tough old lady with a mind of her own and maybe she went of and did her own thing. She impresses me. I for one would never hike off alone and sleep in a tent in the woods by myself. Especially after reading this forum and threads like the 2 missing girls in Panama. Nooooo thank you.
Originally posted by animosity:
Hmu next time, we'll have some soapy gins and then draw each other naked. Until we get kicked out.
Even if you are experienced, I wouldn't recommend anyone hike by themselves. There are so many things that happen outside of your control.
I agree with the possibility of diabetes, but it could have been as simple as her being dehydrated or having a bladder infection that make her confused and disoriented. It makes me wonder if she would still be alive today if she had chosen to camp with a buddy.
I don't think suicide. She is at the age where shit goes wrong unexpectedly. She had plans to meet up with the hubby for supplies. I don't think she was lost and she probably just died in her sleep. Stroked out or heart attack.
I mean, without a note, but had a full life and a hobby she loved? She would have said goodbye somehow. Unless they find that she did some sudden switching money around and finalizing wills, I would bet her body just fritzed on her.
I don't think suicide either. Most likely, chest pains or dizziness caused by some unknown condition.
I wish I was brave enough to hike the AT. I loved the doc that Netflix had on it.
I'm not sold on suicide, but if I were going to kill myself, I do it so it looked natural if possible, leaving no note. (most suicides don't, you know) I wouldn't want people to feel bad because the didn't stop me. Just slip quietly away..
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