5 days ago
Autopsy determines cause of death of 31-year-old woman found in parking lot
PORT ST. LUCIE − The death of a 31-year-old woman found in her car in a restaurant parking lot in July was determined to be natural, a Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson said Aug. 8.
Kellie Decker, of Port St. Lucie, was found about 11:30 p.m. July 10 in her four-door Honda in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in the 3100 block of Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard. She was in the front passenger seat.
Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, police spokesperson, on July 11 said there were no signs of trauma to the body and no signs of foul play.
Mesiti said Aug. 8 that an autopsy determined haemophilus parainfluenza sepsis with meningitis and pneumonia was the cause of death, and the manner of death was natural.
According to Cleveland Clinic, parainfluenza refers to a group of viruses that can cause common respiratory infections, including illnesses such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, croup and pneumonia. Parainfluenza is a different illness than influenza.
Meningitis is an infection and swelling of the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. The inflammation typically causes symptoms including fever, headache and a stiff neck. Viral infections are the most common meningitis cause in the United States.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames air sacs in the lungs, and the sacs may fill with pus or fluid, causing coughs, difficulty breathing, fever and chills, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Investigators about 6 p.m. July 10 went to a home in Port St. Lucie regarding a report that Decker had not returned from work and was missing.
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They learned she was a DoorDash driver and last was seen about 11:30 a.m. leaving to go to work.
Mesiti said Decker's DoorDash order was at the McDonald's, and it was canceled. Investigators determined she arrived there shortly after 11:30 a.m.
No one was seen approaching or leaving her vehicle other than her, he said.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Cause of death of woman found in restaurant parking lot determined
