By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Authorities say the two individuals found dead inside their Napavine home are Cheryl Ausland, 50, and her 59-year-old brother Robert Collier, but they don’t know yet how they died.
An autopsy was set for today and this afternoon, Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod reports the cause and manner of death won’t be determined until he gets the results of toxicology tests.
That can take eight to 10 weeks.
The sheriff’s office is still investigating, after two co-workers of Ausland went to her home on East Stella Street on Tuesday morning to check on her when she didn’t show up for work. They found the pair deceased.
There were no signs of a struggle or obvious lethal injuries, leaving detectives to wait for information from the autopsy.
A spokesperson for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says they haven’t ruled out anything.
“I wish toxicology test were instant, so we could say,” Cmdr. Steve Aust said. “Quite frankly, I think toxicology is going to answer those questions.”
Aust said the tests would basically be looking for alcohol, drugs or some other substance that could have led to the deaths, and that they aren’t suspecting poisoning.
When detectives believe the two died is something they won’t release, Aust said.
Ausland had been at work in recent days, and Collier was unemployed, according to Aust.
“We’re still investigating who was the last person to have seen him and when,” he said.