Crime & Safety

Police: Hypothermia Likely Cause of Death for Woman Found in Annapolis Park

A woman's body was found Friday afternoon at Bestgate Park in Annapolis. Preliminary tests show the cause of death was hypothermia.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate a deceased woman whose body was found Friday afternoon in an Annapolis park died of hypothermia, Anne Arundel County Police said.

The body of Diane Donati, 48, address unknown, was discovered lying in a ravine behind a sediment pond at Bestgate Park by someone walking a dog. There were no signs of trauma, according to the department’s Facebook page.

The death has been called accidental, but the findings are preliminary pending toxicology results. Police said there are no suspicious indicators and the case is not being investigated as a homicide.

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Police say Donati was fully clothed and dressed appropriately for cold weather and even had a blue blanket wrapped around her. Because of the condition and location of the blue blanket, it appeared she had draped it over her shoulders in an effort to keep warm.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen Donati to contact Detective Regina Collier at 410-222-3417.

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Last month the body of Diana Kapnistos Hester, 49, of Farley Court in Arnold was found near the 15th hole tee at the Bay Hills Golf Course in Anne Arundel County, Patch earlier reported. An autopsy found signs of hypothermia and no indication of trauma or foul play were found.


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