Mary Mara’scause of death has been determined.
New York State police confirmed to PEOPLE that Mara died of asphyxiation — or suffocation — due to drowning.
“The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office performed a post-mortem examination on the decedent and determined that the decedent’s manner of death was an accident, due to asphyxiation, due to warm water drowning,” NYSP Troop D Public Information Officer Jack Keller said.
On Tuesday,TMZreported that investigators thought Mara, who was 61 at the time of her death, could have slipped and hit her head while getting out of the river — which may have caused her to fall back in and drown. They specifically noted alleged “face abrasions” found on her body.
PEOPLE confirmed the report was inaccurate, with police stating, “There were no signs of any trauma to Mary’s body when she was found.”
Matthew Simmons/WireImage
Mara died while swimming in the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent, New York, on Sunday morning. Investigators confirmed that foul play has been ruled out.
“The preliminary investigation suggests the victim drowned while swimming,” they wrote in thestatement. “The victim’s body showed no signs of foul play and was transported to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office pending an autopsy to determine an official cause of death.
Mara’s rep, Craig Dorfman confirmed theERandCriminal Mindsactress’s death in astatement to PEOPLEon Monday. He said she was “one of the finest actresses I ever met.”
“I still remember seeing her onstage in 1992 inMad Forestoff-Broadway,” Dorfman said. “She was electric, funny, and a true individual. Everyone loved her. She will be missed.”
Dale Midkiff and Mary Mara inLove Potion #9.Everett
Aline from her obituarystates that Mara, “just missed stardom but always played for winning teams.”
Dory Jackson
source: people.com
