ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says it has found no foul play during its investigation into the death of Cora Faith Walker. The former State Representative and top aide for the St. Louis County Executive died suddenly the morning of March 11. She was 37.
“There is nothing within the information or in my own experience that I see as suspicious or anything that would lead us to investigate further,” said Isom.
He said the department is waiting for the final autopsy and toxicology report to close the investigation. On Friday, the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office released a preliminary report showing there were no signs of trauma or injury involved in Walker’s death.
Isom also said there are no active local or federal investigations into Walker’s death, ending rumors that a federal agency may have been working on the case. Isom did explain a St. Louis Metropolitan Police detective working the case is part of a DEA Task Force but the task force is not working the investigation. He could not say if any of the information from the case was shared with the DEA.
Isom did share a timeline of the events prior to Walker being pronounced dead. He explained Walker entered the Live! By Lowes hotel around midnight on March 10. He said the next morning, another person who shared the room left around 7 a.m. Isom said Walker left the room around 9 a.m. and collapsed in the hallway.
Isom said a person at the hotel saw Walker in distress, called 9-1-1, then worked on resuscitating her. The 9-1-1 log shows a call for help came in at 8:55 a.m. The fire department arrived to the hotel by 9:04 a.m. Walker arrived at SLU Hospital at 9:46 a.m. and she was pronounced dead at 9:58 a.m.
The Public Safety Director said police have interviewed the hotel guest sharing Walker’s room, the good Samaritan and hotel employees. Investigators have also reviewed hotel surveillance. He did say there was no evidence collected from the hotel room.
Isom and a city official both dismissed efforts by St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch for the Missouri Highway Patrol to conduct an independent investigation of Walker’s death. He says Walker and Mayor Jones were friends and together the night before her death. He believes there is a direct conflict.
Isom added that the police department has no conflict of interest and believes in the integrity of the department.
“I am very satisfied with the word done,” said Isom.
There is no word on when the final autopsy and toxicology report will be released.