Preliminary autopsy: Orangefield woman drowned in ditch

A preliminary autopsy shows drowning as the preliminary cause of death of an Orangefield woman whose body was found in a ditch on Sunday, November 1, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. 

On Sunday November 1, at approximately 7:10 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a woman's body found in a ditch in the 8800 block of Cajun Way in Orangefield. 

Laura Russell, 42, lived in Bridge City.  The sheriff's office says Ms. Russell had apparently gotten into an argument with her husband October 31 while driving home from a party in Orangefield.  Russell got out of their vehicle and began walking on Cajun Way.  The husband drove home and returned later to try to get her to come home.  While checking the area he located her in the ditch in the 8800 block of Cajun Way and phoned the Sheriff’s Office. 

Orange County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Joe Parkhurst pronounced the victim dead at the scene and ordered an autopsy.

The Sheriff's Office says Dr. Tommy Brown performed an autopsy Monday and ruled the preliminary cause of death as accidental due to drowning.  There were no signs of foul play.