By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has completed its investigation into the death of the 33-year-old Centralia woman whose body was found in the Cowlitz River in October and confirmed she drowned, but they don’t know why.
[1]Elizabeth A. Pham
Coroner Warren McLeod is listing the manner of death for Elizabeth Pham as undetermined, he said today.
The married mother of three had been missing for 17 days when a pair of fisherman found her about two miles downriver from where she had last been seen.
She was last seen sitting beneath the overpass at exit 59 staring into the Cowlitz River on Oct. 10, and described as behaving unusual and confused by at least one person who saw her that day. Her car was discovered nearby on the freeway, unlocked with the keys in it.
Her makeup bag was turned into police the next day, having been discovered by a fisherman near the fork in the Cowlitz and Toutle Rivers.
McLeod said: “We just don’t know; no one saw her go into the water.”
A spokesperson for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said today their case is not yet closed, but there were no signs of foul play.
The sheriff’s office has said Pham may have been suffering from from postpartum depression following the birth of her third child.
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For background, read “News brief: Coroner confirms body is missing mom” from Thursday October 29, 2015, here [2]