The Durango Police Department has officially closed the case in the death of Karen Michelle Reyes.
“We have no reason to believe that there’s anything untoward that occurred,” police Sgt. Deck Shaline said. “What we have to go on are observation and a thorough autopsy, which I attended.”
The autopsy report, which forensic pathologist Dr. Robert Kurtzman released Tuesday, showed Reyes, 42, died of drowning and asphyxia, with evidence of hypothermia. La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith ruled the death accidental.
Reyes’ body was found Feb. 7 in the Animas River, and Reyes was last seen the evening before, when she went out to take her dogs for a walk.
Reyes had a blood-alcohol level of 0.133 and had recently partaken in marijuana, according to the toxicity results from the tests accompanying the autopsy.
“She was a relatively young woman and outdoorsy, and it’s a real shame,” Shaline said, “but we go with what Dr. Kurtzman says.”
abutler@durangoherald.com
