Waveland woman's death appears accidental, police say

WAVELAND -- Police believe the Thursday death of Karen Humphries was a "tragic accident," Chief Dave Allen said.

Officers found Humphries, 49, dead in her St. Joseph Street home after they were asked to check on her.

"At this point we feel that Karen's death was a tragic accident and we wish to extended our condolences to her family during this trying time," Allen said in a press release Tuesday. "The house has been released to relatives."

Hancock County Coroner Jim Faulk said she died from blunt-force injury, including skull fractures and contusions and hemorrhages of the brain.

After the discovery of her body, police approached the case as "suspicious" because the circumstances were "not clear-cut," the chief said.

"The investigation is still, however, open awaiting the lab and crime-scene results," Allen said.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Waveland woman's death appears accidental, police say ."