Woman's Death Ruled Accidental Drowning

A 41-year-old Lincoln woman whose body was found in a northeast retention pond in February died in an accidental drowning, authorities said Wednesday. (1011now.com) Lincoln police said officers were called to the pond near North 50th and R streets at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, after a passerby reported a body in the water. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and Lincoln Fire and Rescue helped remove her from the pond. (klin.com) Police later identified her as 41-year-old Latia Abker. A family member had reported Abker missing earlier that day, but officers said they did not have time to publish the missing-person report before her body was found. (kfornow.com) The case had been open for more than two months because an autopsy initially listed the cause of death as undetermined. The Lancaster County Attorney’s Office later completed its review and ruled the death an accidental drowning. (1011now.com) Retention ponds are built to collect stormwater runoff after rain or snow, and many sit beside streets, apartments, or commercial lots. In this case, the pond off 50th and R became the center of a death investigation rather than a rescue call. (kfornow.com) Authorities said toxicology testing found alcohol in Abker’s system when she died. Lincoln police said the investigation into the circumstances around her death is still active even after the manner of death was classified as accidental. (news-usa.today) The ruling closes the question of how Abker died, but not every question about what happened before she entered the water. For now, police have said only that the death was accidental and that investigators are still working to piece together the events around Feb. 17. (1011now.com)