Dawn Fital died of asphyxiation and had head trauma, coroner says
A Pittsfield Township woman found dead Thursday in an Indiana pond died of asphyxiation and her death has been ruled a homicide, autopsy results show.
The autopsy on 45-year-old Dawn Marie Fital was conducted this morning at the Lake County morgue in Indiana, said P.J. Adams, the county's chief deputy coroner.
Fital also had head trauma, but that's not what killed her, Adams said. He said he could not provide further details.
Fital was found dead at 9:13 a.m. Thursday in a retention pond behind a Toys ‘R’ Us store off Route 30 between Hobart and Merrillville, Ind., police said. Her boyfriend, 44-year-old Gregory Noack, is accused of killing her Monday at their Pittsfield Township apartment and disposing of her body in the pond. He is being held without bond at the Washtenaw County Jail, where he was arraigned today on a murder charge.
Officials are awaiting toxicology results, Adams said, which are expected to be available within two weeks.
Dawn Fital
Township police say Noack killed Fital at the Arbor Knoll apartment complex on Plum Hollow Drive, where he lived with her and her ex-husband. Fital was bound, put in a suitcase and thrown into the pond, investigators said.
Police found her body after interviewing Noack, who was arrested Tuesday in Merrillville, Ind., more than 200 miles from his home. He was reportedly acting suspiciously behind a bank when he was taken into custody.
A funeral for Fital is scheduled for Wednesday in Milan.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
bob ondiss
Thu, Jul 7, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
Why is the suspect Noack's FB friend Stephanie Boggs' photo listed on this site as Dawn Fital's photo?
Kelly Davenport
Thu, Jul 7, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
Bob, that's the photo released by Pittsfield police and is indeed Dawn Fital. Some people on Facebook, such as those who knew her, have also posted her photo on their profiles.
RJA
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 2:25 a.m.
It is apparent that many cared for this young mother, family and friends. It is so sad that she died this way. No comment on the boyfriend, nothing good to say.
Brian Hill
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 1:16 a.m.
The ex-husband lived there too? Strange.
Laurel
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
Just because their family dynamic is different than what some may view as traditional doesn't mean any less of the family or that it is strange. While this story is a very sad one, it is also sad that so many are quick to judge what they do not understand.
Berda Green
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 8:58 p.m.
so sosososos sad RIP
Emily D
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
ACTUALLY... YES, this was necessary because they were updating us with the results of the coroner's report because they did an autopsy this morning. You should realize that comments like this only affect the family and friends of the victim and its just really selfish to not think about how difficult this is for those who cared about Dawn Fital.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.
As I said, update the "old" (like 5 hours old) story. They do it all the time when they are not trying to be sensationalist. Personally, I think one story would be better for the family too...but that is just my opinion, which is no better than say.........yours.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
No sense updating the old story with these couple of paragraphs of new information? Didn't think so.
jns131
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
Actually I was on line with CNN reading more about the story when it broke, at the same time this place wasn't telling it like it is. So, for this place? They pretty much violate the 1st amendment on right to know. You rock CNN.