Pregnant teen's death due to natural causes

SCHAWANA – The death of a pregnant teen last week, originally thought to be suspicious, was determined Friday by Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison to be of natural causes.

The deceased teen, four months pregnant, is Sasha Tapia Gutiérrez of Schawana. Morrison said she died of cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). He didn't know if it was a long-term condition.

Although Tapia Gutiérrez, 18, was declared dead at Quincy Valley Medical Center, it is not clear where she died. She was found reportedly lifeless at the doorstep of a residence near her own home.

The emergency aid call came in at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10. The location was the 18300 block of Third Avenue SW in Schawana.

Grant County Fire District No. 10 firefighter Alfredo Gutiérrez was first to respond to the aid call. There was a crowd present and one person administering CPR when he arrived.

Gutiérrez said he gave CPR and declared he could not find a pulse. By that time, other emergency personnel arrived.

“They continued to give her CPR and put her in the ambulance,” Gutiérrez. “Afterward I heard a radio call that said they had a pulse.”

Gutiérrez said he saw nothing suspicious at the scene. There were no visible injuries to the young woman's head or body.

Gutiérrez added that residents became suspicious when they saw a sheriff's deputy later seemingly inspecting the area where Tapia Gutiérrez was found on the ground.