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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, March 06, 2009 7:20 PM

Report: Body, cause of death identified

By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer

A Garnett woman died of smoke inhalation Wednesday night in her vehicle near Richmond, though precise details surrounding her death remain unknown, Franklin County Sheriff Craig Davis said.

Lena Roye Mathenthin, 39, Garnett, was identified Friday evening by dental records, Davis said.

Her body was found late Wednesday night in a burned-out sport utility vehicle two miles west of Richmond and about one-half mile north on Eisenhower Road.

Officers and firefighters responded to a report of a small grass fire in that location, Davis said. At the scene, they found the vehicle with a body inside.

Davis said Mathenthin apparently was on her way home from the Princeton area when she drove off the road into a ditch, where her vehicle became stuck.

He said the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire originated under the car, leading investigators to believe the catalytic or muffler system set the dry grass nearby on fire, which spread to the vehicle’s passenger compartment.

Davis said he doesn’t know why Mathenthin stayed in the vehicle or couldn’t get out, but an investigation and autopsy revealed that no foul play was involved.

He said he doesn’t know yet whether Mathenthin was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Those results won’t be available for several weeks, he said.

He said Mathenthin’s boyfriend had called to report her missing Thursday morning after hearing media reports of the incident.

Mathenthin also had two grown children and an 11-year-old son, Davis said.

Trisha Moss, manager of the Garnett Dollar General Store, 308 N. Maple St., said Mathenthin worked for her three separate times, most recently a few months ago.

Moss said she didn’t know Mathenthin very well, but she knew she had children and was engaged.

“I considered her a real nice girl,” she said. “I really feel bad for the family.”

Farris Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements, Davis said.

Other agencies that assisted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office with the case and investigation included the Ottawa Fire Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Frontier Forensics.

Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.

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Report: Body, cause of death identified

By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.