The Duchesne County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death last week of Theresa M. Sanford, who was found dead inside a car outside the Duchesne County Courthouse.

The 35-year-old Roosevelt woman's body was discovered Thursday sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked on the west side of the courthouse. A blanket was covering the body.Sheriff's investigators believe the woman had been in the car since about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday after dropping off a friend who was serving weekend commitments at the county jail. Police believe the woman was waiting for friends to pick her up.

Passers-by entering the courthouse Thursday apparently thought the woman was sleeping. Duchesne County Sheriff Ralph Stansfield and a justice court employee determined the woman was dead after being summoned to investigate by a man who reported that a woman sitting in a car did not look well.

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Police are handling the incident as a "suspicious death" even though a preliminary autopsy showed no signs of trauma or internal or external injuries. An official cause of death is awaiting toxicology reports.

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