American found dead in Cagayan de Oro hotel

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A retired American navy officer was found dead inside his rented room in a budget hotel here on Tuesday but the police said initial investigation found no indication of a foul play.

Dr. West Edquila, team leader of the police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), said Wednesday that Thomas Woodward likely died of a heart attack.

“But we are conducting an autopsy to make sure, and erase any doubt that there was foul play,” Edquila said.

Woodward’s lifeless body was discovered when workers of the budget hotel, who had suspected something was wrong with the guest because he had not come out four days after checking in, opened his room.

The lifeless American was still seated on the toilet bowl and assorted medicines were scattered on the floor, Edquila said.

Cogon Police Precinct chief investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Neil de las Alas said they were trying to establish what Woodward’s business in the city was.

Woodward’s remains had been brought to a funeral parlor here and authorities were contacting the US Embassy, Edquila said.

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