COAL TOWNSHIP - The woman whose body was found in a wooded area east of Locust Gap died of natural causes, according to the Northumberland County coroner.
James F. Kelley said the death of Rochelle M. Stief, 48, of Mount Carmel was cardiac-related.
Kelley said he spoke to Stief's physician and made his determination based on her medical history and his investigation of the scene where her body was found.
"Her car was stuck in the mud. That's a strain on the heart and body," he said.
There will be no autopsy or toxicology test.
Kelly believes Stief's body was in the woods about 24 hours.
Her body was reported found about 4:50 p.m. Sunday afternoon by a group of off-roaders who came upon her 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, which was parked in the woods about 200 yards from Route 901. She was lying outside the vehicle. There was mud smeared on the vehicle's front-end and some splattered on either side.
Mount Carmel Township Police did not believe her death to be suspicious.