Kalispell woman's death under investigation

The Daily Inter Lake

The body of a Kalispell woman was found at a Spokane hotel over the weekend.

Spokane police are investigating the death of Priscilla Anne Wetzel, 23, after she was found unconscious on the property of the Red Lion River Inn.

An autopsy failed to reveal the cause of her death, Spokane police Cpl. Tom Lee said Monday evening.

That means police will have to wait for the results of toxicology tests. Those could take six to eight weeks to finish because of a backlog at the Washington State Crime Lab in Cheney, Lee said.

Spokane Fire Department paramedics were summoned to check on Wetzel at 3:26 a.m. Sunday, Lee said.

Wetzel and four friends had visited Spokane on Saturday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Although they had rented two rooms at the hotel, Lee said, she was not found inside her room but elsewhere on hotel property.

Wetzel was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be revived.

The department's Major Crimes Division examined evidence at the scene and interviewed all four of Wetzel's friends Sunday, Lee said. Detectives concluded no foul play was evident, but will wait for toxicology results before making a final determination.

Lee said it is unlikely anyone will be charged in Wetzel's death.

Her family in Kalispell was notified of her death Sunday through the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mike Meehan said Monday.