No obvious foul play in Coralville deaths, investigation continuing

CORALVILLE - While there are no 'obvious” signs of foul play, Coralville Police Chief Barry Bedford said his officers are taking their time investigating the death of two people found at a local hotel Tuesday night.

'You only get one pass at the evidence,” Bedford said Wednesday. 'We're being extremely cautious.”

Coralville Police responded to the Suburban Inn, 2491 Holiday Road, at 6:38 p.m. Tuesday after hotel staff discovered two bodies in a hotel room. Responding officers confirmed the two were deceased and secured the scene. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called in to assist in the investigation, which is ongoing.

In a news release Tuesday, Bedford said he did not believe that members of the public were at risk. He reiterated that stance on Wednesday.

'We do not believe there's any public safety concern,” he said.

Bedford said police were in a 'holding pattern” Wednesday as an autopsy was underway. Police are trying to confirm the suspected identities of the deceased and determine the cause of death. Bedford said the identities of the deceased will not be released until the next of kin are notified.

There are no 'major” concerns with the investigation at this time, Bedford said.

'There are just some questions we haven't been able to work out yet,” he said.

If the deceased are who police believe they are, Bedford said they have been working and staying in the area for a while. The Suburban Inn is an extended stay hotel.