Alaska State Troopers are waiting for results from the autopsy on Sharon Eileen Berghone, who was found dead near her Nikiski home Thursday, before ruling out foul play.
However, Berghone’s daughter, Stephanie Davis, said the family had received word from the State Medical Examiner that “it was an accidental natural death, no foul play suspected, she died of natural causes.”
Davis said right now they are waiting for more information before making any plans.
“We are having her cremated, and we will know more about memorial service at her home church, next week very possibly, (at the ) Nikiski New Hope Christian Fellowship,” Davis said. “Possibly by next week she will coming home to us.”
As of Friday afternoon the troopers had not heard the update from the examiner.
Captain Andy Greenstreet, commander of the troopers’ E Detachment, which covers the Kenai Peninsula, said he did not have a timeline for when the State Medical Examiner will complete the autopsy.
There were no physical marks on the outside of her body, Greenstreet said. Berghone’s family has been very cooperative in aiding the trooper’s investigation, and no other evidence to has been found indicate anything out of the ordinary occurred, he said.
Greenstreet said there is a possibility Berghone may have wandered outside and become disoriented.
“I am not prepared to say we have ruled out (foul play) completely,” Greenstreet said. “You never know what an autopsy will show.”
Previous information from troopers suggested foul play had already been ruled out.
Alaska State Troopers Public Information Officer Beth Ipsen wrote “the investigation has progressed far enough to rule out the suspicion of foul play in connection to Sharon’s death,” in a Thursday email to the Clarion.
“We are doing as can be expected, we just trying to get stuff together and do the best we can,” Davis said.
Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com.
