The Daily World
HOQUIAM — A Port Hadlock woman has been found dead on the Sandpiper Trail boardwalk at the west end of Bowerman Field, according to Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers.
The woman was identified Wednesday as 42-year-old Danielle Leuenberger by Grays Harbor County Coroner Lane Youmans. Her body was found Sunday.
Her family has been notified and an autopsy was performed Tuesday but the official cause of death has not yet been determined, Myers said.
Myers said although the autopsy results are pending toxicology tests, “the preliminary indication suggests the victim may have succumbed to exposure.
“Officers noted the weather over the weekend had been extremely wet with heavy rain and high winds, which was even more pronounced along the shore inside the wildlife refuge.”
Myers said two women were walking on the trail just before 5 p.m. Sunday when they came across the “clearly deceased” Leuenberger about a third of a mile from the entrance to the trail.
The refuge trail is a raised wooden boardwalk that runs along the side of the runway at Bowerman Airport out to a large loop adjacent to the tidal mudflat to the west of the airport.
The trail is only accessible on foot.
The two women called the Hoquiam Fire Department, which responded and confirmed the woman was deceased.
“Given the location of the body and circumstances present, the Hoquiam Police Department launched a death investigation to include mapping the location with a FARO 3D laser scanner,” Myers said.
“The Grays Harbor Crime Scene Mapping Team with members from the Sheriff’s Office and Aberdeen and Hoquiam police spent several hours at the scene until well after dark.”
Detectives continue to investigate the death and are coordinating with the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Don Grossi at 360-532-0892, ext. 295 or dgrossi@cityofhoquiam.com.
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The Daily World of Aberdeen is a sister paper of the Peninsula Daily News. Both are owned by Sound Publishing. Inc.
