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The Mesa County (Colo.) Coroner's Office confirmed Wednesday that "mixed drug intoxication" was the cause of death for a woman thought to have died in Utah before her body, stuffed into a suitcase, was dumped in western Colorado.
Chief Deputy Coroner Victor Yahn said the specific manner of 18-year-old Kelly Myers' death remained undetermined at this time. He declined to further discuss the results of an autopsy and forensic testing, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Police earlier identified two persons of interest in the case: Eduardo Nasario De La Cruz, 30, and Raymond Cordova, 47. The men remained in custody in Colorado, having been arrested earlier on unrelated charges.
Detectives believe Myers died sometime after Dec. 19, 2014, in a room at the Country Inn and Suites in West Valley City. A search warrant alleged that the two men then stuffed her body into the suitcase and drove it some 300 miles to Cactus Park, a remote hiking area 22 miles south of Myers' hometown of Grand Junction.
Law enforcement officers located Myers' body on Feb. 28. Her family buried her on March 8.
While the cause of death has been identified, it could still be weeks before the manner of death is determined and other facts developed for prosecutors to screen possible charges against De La Cruz and Cordova.
Meanwhile, West Valley City police ask anyone with information related to this case call them at 801-840-4000.
Twitter: @remims