ALTON – An Alton woman’s death was ruled natural causes after the city’s police and fire departments were called to the scene to investigate Wednesday morning.
The Alton Police Department was notified at 6 a.m Wednesday, Feb. 12, to dispatch to a home in the 800 block of Maurice Street to assist the Alton Fire Department, which already responded to a 911 request about a possible death in the home.
The fire department found Karyn Bennett, 40, of Alton, in her home lying on her back in bed.
According to police documents, fire department officials told Alton police Bennett was not breathing and no signs of life were evident. They said she was “beyond resuscitation” and requested the coroner be notified.
The police department’s report described the death as a possible diabetic coma.
Police officials talked to Darrius Bennett, the victim’s husband, who told them Bennett had gone to bed around 1 a.m. but had not complained about feeling ill.
Bennett told police he heard his wife coughing and possibly throwing up about 3 a.m. Bennett said he tried waking her up about 6 a.m. because she was snoring, but she didn’t respond, prompting him to call 911.
According to documents, Darrius said his wife had a long history of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and hypertension.
Madison County Deputy Coroner Shane Liley pronounced Bennett’s time of death at 6:54 a.m. He said her death was a result of natural causes.
Liley said he would assist the family with making arrangements to transport Bennett to a funeral home.