Woman’s death on Orchard Mesa ruled suicide

By Paul Shockley
Thursday, February 11, 2010

A 33-year-old woman whose body was found inside a parked car on Orchard Mesa Wednesday evening committed suicide, according to the Mesa County Coroner’s Office.

The coroner’s office in a news release did not identify the woman, who was a Grand Junction resident. An autopsy was performed today.

Grand Junction police received a report around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday that a person was inside the car and not moving. The car was parked on Prospector’s Point, overlooking the Fifth Street bridge and Colorado River.

Police at the time said there were indications at the scene that hazardous materials may be in the area, while the Grand Junction Fire Department’s hazardous materials team was called out. The team found sodium cyanide, which was held in a container in a powder form, inside the woman’s vehicle, Grand Junction Fire Department spokesman Mike Page said.

A note had been posted on a window in the car, warning others about the deadly chemical, Page said.