Updated: April 26, 2004: Park County Coroner Sharon Morris has released the cause of death in the case of Micaela Yanko. "Death resulted from asphyxia due to drowning," reports Morris, "and there is evidence of mild hypothermia." The only injuries were those consistent with contact with the rocks in the river, according to the Coroner.

Morris says she does not recall any previous instances of deaths in the South Platte in Park County in her twelve years as County Coroner.

The Park County Sheriff's investigation into the circumstances of Mrs. Yanko's death is ongoing. ~~~ Updated: April 23, 2004: Park County Coroner Sharon Morris said today that she is waiting for complete information, including toxicology reports, before releasing the results of the autopsy in this case. ~~~ April 21, 2004

The body of 41-year-old Micaela Michelle Yanko of Pine, Colorado, was discovered in the South Platte River at 1:35 am Wednesday morning. Yanko's body was found at the base of the entrance bridge to Mooredale, 2 miles south of Bailey along US Hwy 285.

The party who discovered Yanko and called the Sheriff's Department is described as a "person of interest" by Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener. The Sheriff's investigation is ongoing.

Dr. Ben Galloway will perform an autopsy in Jefferson County Thursday morning. The autopsy is expected to determine whether death resulted from injury, drowning, or hypothermia, according to Park County Coroner Sharon Morris. "Water temperatures in the river are very cold - 35 or 36 degrees," said Morris. Toxicology reports have been ordered, but are not expected back until early next week.