>>9292519 pb
This one says she was dead a long time before body found. Says died afternoon or evening before body was found at 8 next morning.
Published: Sunday July, 22, 2001
Klausutis’ death not suspicious
The medical examiner said he is waiting to rule on the death until blood test results are finished.
By AMBER BOLLMAN | Daily News Staff Writer
The medical examiner investigating the death of Lori Klausutis said Saturday there is absolutely no evidence that the 28-year-old employee of U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough was a victim of “foul play.”
Associate Medical Exam-iner Dr. Michael Berkland will announce how Klausutis died on Wednesday. He is waiting for blood test results and is continuing his investigation into her medical history.
“It would be foolish for me to release the cause of death without the toxicology results in my hand because that one little piece of the puzzle can make all the difference in the investigation,” said Berkland, who completed an autopsy on Klausutis’ body Saturday.
“But there is still no suspicion of foul play.”
Klausutis, of Niceville, was found dead on the floor of Scarborough’s Fort Walton Beach branch office at about 8 a.m. Friday when a couple arrived at the office for an appointment. Berkland said it is likely that Klausutis died sometime Thursday afternoon or evening.
“She had been dead for quite awhile before she was found,” Berkland said Saturday.
“Based on the physical evidence, I feel comfortable moving the time of her death back to the previous day.”
Klausutis’ death was likely accidental or the result of natural causes. Berkland said it is unlikely that her death was a suicide, but will not rule that out until the blood tests are returned.
“There is no evidence at all that this was an intentional act, but we can’t rule it out just yet,” Berkland said.
Toxicology reports, performed at a laboratory in Gainesville, will reveal the presence of any drugs or other unnatural substances in Klausutis’ body, Berkland said.
“I’ve been cautioning people against saying she died of natural causes because there could have been something present in her system that we can’t find until we get those results,” he added.
Berkland said Klausutis had been involved in a serious car accident as a teenager and still suffered from some lingering medical problems, but it is unknown whether those conditions played a role in her death. Many of her medical records are from another state and Berkland is waiting to review those as well before making an announcement.
Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Steve Hogue said he is also awaiting toxicology and medical examiner’s reports, though the department’s preliminary investigation revealed nothing suspicious inside Scarborough’s office. Officers found no signs of a struggle, break-in or robbery, Hogue said.
https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20171208/from-archives-stories-from-2001-related-to-scarborough-aide-klausutis-death