Woman found at downtown motel died of hypothermia

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A woman who was found dead earlier this week on the outdoor walkway of a closed downtown motel died of exposure to cold, an autopsy has determined.

A passer-by saw the woman, identified as 42-year-old Kimberly Jo Colbath, lying naked Monday on the second-floor walkway of the Rodeway Inn shortly before noon. There was no obvious cause of death. The autopsy determined that she died of hypothermia.

The Rodeway Inn was closed by the city about a month ago for various fire code violations and has since been vacant.

Anchorage police found sleeping bags and beer cans in several rooms, evidence that people had been staying there.

Officer John Daley, the crime scene supervisor, said the rooms had been broken into, but police did not know how many people had entered.

The woman was found lying on her side on the walkway. People suffering from hypothermia sometimes take their clothes off because instead of feeling cold, they feel overly warm.