AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The investigation into the death of an Amarillo woman continues, but investigators need help from the public.
At 1:24 p.m. on November 5, 2010, officers were dispatched to 1111 N. Taylor on a report of an unresponsive woman.
52-year-old Ofelia Lopez's husband said he found her on the living room floor with no pulse and blood around her mouth.
The 911 dispatcher instructed him to perform CPR until paramedics arrived, but they were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Because of the blood found around her mouth and elsewhere on her body, Amarillo Police Special Crimes was called out to help investigate.
Lt. Gary Trupe with Special Crimes said there were no visible injuries or signs of a struggle, but the responding officer requested a civil autopsy to try and determine the cause of death.
Emergency Medical personnel on the scene initially believed Lopez may have died from a brain aneurysm, but during the civil autopsy it was revealed that she had a gunshot wound.
Her body was sent to Lubbock for a more in-depth criminal autopsy, and preliminary results show Lopez died from a gunshot.
At this time, Special Crimes investigators are withholding specific information about the crime, such as the caliber of the weapon used, where Lopez was shot and evidence collected at the scene. Trupe said they are keeping that information secret while they look for a suspect.
Trupe did say that there were no signs of forced entry in the home, and that the shot came from inside the house. No weapon or shell casings were found in the home, so suicide is not suspected.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Special Crimes at 378-9468 Or Crime Stoppers at 374-4400.
