Police investigate El Centro pool death
IMPERIAL — The El Centro Police Department is investigating the circumstances of the death of Susy April Salazar, the 28-yearold Imperial woman who was found unresponsive in an El Centro hotel swimming pool on Feb. 19 and who subsequently died the following day at a hospital.
To date, a number of interviews have been held with unidentified individuals who may have knowledge of Salazar’s actions and whereabouts leading to the time of her death, stated ECPD Cmdr. Alvaro Ramirez.
Although the official cause of death remains pending, and is not expected to be determined by the county Coroner’s Office for about 100 to 120 days, Salazar’s mother said she hasn’t yet ruled out foul play.
“We’ll never know what really happened,” said Maria Azucena Lopez. “I just know my daughter didn’t drown and she did not take her own life. It was not an accident.”
Lopez is among those that have been interviewed in recent days by El Centro police, as well as a relative who allegedly was present at the Best Western hotel with Salazar on the night in question, Lopez said.
To Lopez’s knowledge, Salazar and the relative were accompanied at the hotel by at least two other male Valley residents, one of whom was reportedly dating her daughter, Lopez said.
Salazar was found unresponsive in a pool about 11 p.m. Feb. 19 and was subsequently transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center.
The county Sheriff’s Office call logs that reference Salazar’s death at 10:40 a.m. Feb. 20 at the hospital state Salazar was admitted with “ventrical bleed and cut to the head,” which may refer to ventricular bleeding and a head contusion.
Ventricular bleeding is described as bleeding of the brain, which, along with the head contusion, match the injuries hospital staff reportedly noted Salazar had sustained, Lopez said.
Hospital staff also allegedly disclosed to Lopez that no water was found in Salazar’s lungs, which in Lopez’s estimation, discounts a fatal drowning.
Police were not initially called to the hotel following the discovery of Salazar’s body and had taken up their investigation in the days following the incident, a perceived delay that has frustrated Lopez’s attempt to seek closure.
Salazar was a single mother who leaves behind four children ages 11 to 4.