116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Police still investigating cause of death for two found at Cedar Rapids apartment
Causes of death for two people found dead inside a Cedar Rapids apartment Friday may not be known for weeks, but police do not suspect foul play.
Several police officers and an ambulance responded to Three Oaks Apartments, 1233 Third Ave. SE around 8:50 a.m. where the bodies of a man and a woman were located in apartment No. 4, authorities said.
Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said there was no signs of physical harm or violence.
“It's suspicious just because there were two bodies there,” Hamblin said. “They're investigating why.”
Police did not release names of the deceased Friday, but family members and the owner of the apartment building told The Gazette the woman was Malinda Kennedy, 43, of Cedar Rapids.
Kennedy's neice, Shawniece Campbell, 17, of Cedar Rapids, said the man who died was Kennedy's boyfriend. Campbell said she did not know his name.
Campbell said she and her aunt were close. After she learned the knews, Campbell held her head in her hands and sobbed.
“She was funny, nice and kind,” Campbell told The Gazette. “I don't see how this happens, because she's a nice person.”
Kennedy and her boyfriendhad been dating a few years, since Kennedy moved to Cedar Rapids from Georgia, Campbell said.
Campbell, whose sister called her with the news, said she has no idea how Kennedy died.
“She was healthy,” Campbell said.
Shanitha Kennedy, another of Kennedy's neices, said news of the death was a shock.
“I was just here hours ago, like last night,” Kennedy said. “To see her gone today, it just doesn't seem real.”
The apartment building's owner, Tom Allie, said Kennedy had lived in the apartment for two or three months. He was also unsure of the boyfriend's name.
Police said autopsies would be conducted on the two bodies. Toxicology tests would be included, but those results might not be known for six to eight weeks, Hamblin said. No more information was expected until at least Monday.
“As with any case like this, we will be working with the medical examiner,” Capt. Steve O'Konek said.
Police and a medic talk outside an 1233 Third Ave. SE, Apt. 4, where two dead bodies were discovered this morning, Friday, July 2, 2010. Police said there were no visible signs of foul play. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)
Police investigate outside of Three Oaks Apartments at 1233 Third Ave. SE, after two dead bodies were discovered in Apartment No. 4 while Shawniece Campbell, 17, of Cedar Rapids, sobs on the front step of another apartment this morning, Friday, July 2, 2010. Police said there were no visible signs of foul play. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)
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