An autopsy on the body of Karen Michelle Reyes is planned for Wednesday, and authorities said they will not release any more information about the case until the autopsy is complete.
The body of Reyes, 42, was discovered by a fisherman early Saturday afternoon in the Animas River near the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
Cpl. Nick Stasi with the Durango Police Department said the autopsy should be performed later this week.
“They’ll be doing it here either Wednesday morning or afternoon,” he said.
“There were some people who happened to be walking along the trail who also discovered (the body) about the same time as a fisherman,” Stasi said.
Near the scene, authorities were collecting statements as well as photographing witnesses and their shoes.
“Anytime we have people go through a crime scene, we need to identify who they are,” Stasi said. “That’s all we were doing.”
The location of what authorities are calling a suspicious, unattended death is being treated as a crime scene.
“We don’t know it’s a crime scene, but we have to treat it that way until we know it’s not, Stasi said.
Reyes, of Durango, was reported missing by her boyfriend Saturday morning after she left her residence on Obrien Drive, near Chapman Hill on Friday night with her two dogs.
The discovery of a body was initially reported Saturday afternoon at 12:15 p.m. by the fisherman about a quarter mile south of the foot bridge behind Durango High School near the east bank of the Animas River. Coroner Jann Smith later determined it to be Reyes.
Lt. Darrell Robertson with DPD called it suspicious because of the nature of how Reyes was found, submerged in water with no obvious cause of death.
“We won’t have anything more until after the autopsy,” Stasi said.
If you have any information regarding this open investigation, contact Detective Sgt. Deck Shaline or Detective Josh Newman at 375-4729.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
