Update: Cause of Aquinnah Woman's Death Thought to be Exposure

 Aquinnah resident Amanda Hutchinson left her house during Saturday's snowstorm that covered much of the Island with nine inches of snow. The next morning, she was found dead not far from her home.

Authorities now believe that Hutchinson, who was last seen on Saturday January 21 at 5 pm, went to check on a property that she caretakes about one-third mile away from her home, and died on her way back home.

State Police Sgt. Thomas Medeiros, who was on the scene Sunday morning, said,” It was apparent to me that she did go to check on other property. There were footprints consistent with hers around the house, there were signs that someone had been inside the house, and it appears that she died on her way home.”

As to why she was not found until 8:30am Sunday morning, Medeiros reported that, “She told her husband that she was going to her sewing room, which is in a separate building from the house. It was not uncommon for her not to come home at night from the sewing room.”

The cause of death is thought to be from exposure to the elements, but an autopsy is being performed to make an exact determination.

“There was no sign of trauma,” said Medeiros.

The investigation is now being done out of the Cape and Island’s District Attorney’s Office. Medeiros believes the death was accidental.

“I would be surprised they find something out of the ordinary,” he said. “It looks to be accidental, nothing more. No one did anything wrong, there were no signs of foul play.”

Hutchinson was the administrative assistant to the Aquinnah board of health and assistant to the planning board. She was 50 years old.