Police have 'exhausted all avenues' in Brigham City woman's death; foul play not suspected

BRIGHAM CITY — Investigators looking into the death of Fanny Escalona de Angola, 61 — who was found unresponsive in Box Elder Creek on Feb. 27 — released a statement Wednesday saying "foul play is not suspected" at this time.

"Due to circumstances involving the incident, investigators have exhausted all avenues surrounding the death investigation," the Brigham City police statement says, though the "incident is still under investigation."

According to police, the medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death.

"The Brigham City Police Department extends their heartfelt condolences to Fanny's family," the statement reads, in part. "If you or anyone you know may be dealing with thoughts of self-harm, reach out to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline."

Previous search warrants, filed by Brigham City police to obtain Angola's phone and medical records, indicated they were treating the case as a homicide.

Officers found Angola unresponsive in Box Elder Creek after receiving a possible missing persons call from her husband earlier that morning. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead hours later.

Police say they found the woman in the creek without any pants, and that "it was discovered that she had a ligature tied in a knot around her neck," with markings suggesting "it had been wrapped around the neck multiple times and fastened securely," according to a search warrant affidavit police obtained to gain entry in Angola's home to retrieve her cellphone as evidence.

Officers requested the medical records after learning from Angola's husband that she had been at the emergency room just a few hours prior to being found in the creek. They said the husband "was unsure of what medications had been administered there but believed that she had been given a sleep aid."

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