By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has completed its investigation into the death of the 33-year-old Centralia woman whose body was found in the Cowlitz River in October and confirmed she drowned, but they don’t know why.
Elizabeth A. Pham
Coroner Warren McLeod is listing the manner of death for Elizabeth Pham as undetermined, he said today.
The married mother of three had been missing for 17 days when a pair of fisherman found her about two miles downriver from where she had last been seen.
She was last seen sitting beneath the overpass at exit 59 staring into the Cowlitz River on Oct. 10, and described as behaving unusual and confused by at least one person who saw her that day. Her car was discovered nearby on the freeway, unlocked with the keys in it.
Her makeup bag was turned into police the next day, having been discovered by a fisherman near the fork in the Cowlitz and Toutle Rivers.
McLeod said: “We just don’t know; no one saw her go into the water.”
A spokesperson for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said today their case is not yet closed, but there were no signs of foul play.
The sheriff’s office has said Pham may have been suffering from from postpartum depression following the birth of her third child.
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For background, read “News brief: Coroner confirms body is missing mom” from Thursday October 29, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
The families of people who commit suicide always want to put a good face on it and want to cover up the true causes of the person’s demise. Probably people who knew her as well as the sheriff’s investigators have a good theory of what brought this poor lady to jump in the river and drown but that will never be made public.
All we know is the hint from the Sheriff that she suffered from PPD after having her third child. Also, looking up her court record, she seems to have had quite a few appointments with the local courts over the last couple of years.
It’s a given that a physician is going to prescribe anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, or perhaps other psychiatric drugs for PPD along with that diagnosis.
Although these drugs are handed out like candy these days, they are dangerous and some increase the risk of suicide or homicide.
When drinking alcohol while on these drugs a person can experience blackouts in which they act out irrationally and are not even aware of it the following day, if they survive.
We can only guess what distress this lady was in and what brought her to this point. There are people in the know but they aren’t going to talk beyond friends and family.
It’s really too bad that she didn’t meet an angel that day who might have saved her. I know that I would have.
Of course they said it was clean. Like they would portray her as a pill popping junkie as it would look bad on them.
I’m aware it wasn’t released. I’m just close with the family so I know the toxicology was clean. It’s just sad people feel the need jump to any possible negative reasoning for her life ending.
Thats funny the article never mentioned Toxicology LPAK. SSRUI’s have a serious black box warning that comes with them. One of the side effects is suicide another is the link of antidepressants to mass shootings. Thats why they call them Ding Biscuts. First of all Cascade Mental Health is a joke..
Toxicology was clean. Get a life.
Boy that’s a tough one to figure out…..
Crazy broad jumped in the river!
What drugs were in her system. Im willing to bet Percocet supplied by the Dentist.