Further testing to be conducted in death

EL DORADO — A preliminary medical examiner’s report regarding the death of an El Dorado woman has indicated that further tests will have to be conducted, El Dorado police said Tuesday.

Police Chief Billy White said investigators who are probing the death of 22-year-old Bobresha S. Howell received a preliminary report last week from the Arkansas Crime Laboratory in Little Rock.

Howell was found dead on July 12 inside her residence at 618 Marrable Hill.

The state crime lab is working to determine the cause of death, labeling that space in its one-page preliminary report as “pending.”

“They’re going to have to do some additional testing. It’s going to take a while for processing,” White said. “The full autopsy report will be several pages, six or seven pages, long.”

Police said a relative became worried after trying in vain to get in contact with Howell on the morning of July 12 and summoned officers to the scene.

Officers arrived at the residence at approximately 10:30 a.m. and forcibly entered when they did not receive a response from inside the house.

White confirmed that Howell’s small child, an infant, was present when her body was discovered inside the residence.

He said the child was not hurt. Relatives and neighbors reportedly tended to the child while officers were on the scene.

Police are also waiting to hear back from the state crime lab to estimate the time of death.

“That’s going to be addressed by the crime lab,” White said.

Police have not yet said if they believe Howell died of natural causes or if they suspect foul play.

“We are investigating all aspects of this incident. We’re still conducting interviews with family, friends and neighbors,” White said.