A final autopsy report in the January death of Betty Halverstadt offers little new information about her fall from a bridge on U.S. 77 Highway south of Winfield, Cowley County undersheriff Bill Mueller said.
After five months of waiting, investigators received the final report Tuesday afternoon. Mueller said he would speak with members of Halverstadt’s family before discussing the findings with the media.
A final autopsy report includes a manner of death ? options include homicide, suicide, accidental or undetermined ? and will reveal the results of toxicology testing. Investigators know Halverstadt did have some alcohol to drink before her death but do not know how much.
Halverstadt’s body was found early the morning of Jan. 31 after the woman fell approximately 27 feet to her death. Trackers and sheriff’s investigators found no signs that anyone else was on or near the bridge with her.
The 42-year-old woman’s vehicle had broken down about a mile west of the bridge some time after 1:30 a.m., and she began walking north and east toward Winfield. A railroad crew found her body around 7:45 a.m.
Speculation about how Halverstadt died has spawned a number of theories and rumors, most of which local authorities have followed up on. Reports that the woman won a large amount of money at a casino ? where she spent the final few hours of her life ? were proved false.
But investigators are still unable to find a cell phone the woman used the night she died. Cellphone records indicate Halverstadt used the phone to call and text friends.
