Autopsy gives few clues in southern Utah woman's death

Authorities in southern Utah are investigating what they call the "suspicious" death of a 55-year-old La Verkin woman.

Laura Petterson's body was found in her mobile home at the Shady Ridge Trailer Court on Saturday by a friend who had not seen her in some time, Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith said Monday. The friend called 911.

"It's suspicious," he told the Deseret News. "The body had some signs of injury."

However, authorities said they were unsure if it was a homicide or a suicide. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy. Preliminary results came back inconclusive, Smith said.

Sheriff's deputies would not release additional information about her injuries. Washington County sheriff's detectives said they hoped to release more information in the coming days.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com