Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A Steamboat Springs woman found murdered in her home bled to death from multiple stab wounds and had no drugs or alcohol in her system, according to preliminary autopsy results released by Routt County Coroner Doug Allen.

Meanwhile, Police Chief J.D. Hays said he is "comfortable" the case will be solved.

Allen said he ruled the manner of Lori Bases' death a homicide and he said the cause of death was exsanguination, or bleeding to death.

He said Bases tested negative for drugs and alcohol. Public Safety Director J.D. Hays confirmed that drugs are not a part of the police department's investigation into the murder.

"To my knowledge, we found nothing in the house to indicate drugs were involved," Hays said.

Hays did not say when an arrest in the case may be made, but he said Bases' murder will be solved.

"I feel comfortable we'll solve this case. Everybody wants it to go 1-2-3 and be over, but the fact is, these investigations take time. We've talked to over 100 people and everything needs to be recorded. It's very time-consuming," Hays said. "When an arrest is made immediately, this is the stuff that occurs in that year before the trial. We're doing it now because an arrest hasn't been made."

Allen said Bases died sometime during the evening of May 11, but he has not determined a specific time. Other details are being protected by investigators hoping to present an air-tight case to the district attorney.

"As far as specifics, this is still an open case. We're still working to bring it to an end," Allen said.

An autopsy was done on May 13 in Jefferson County. That full report could take several weeks to be completed, officials said.

A report on physical evidence from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation could take up to two months, Hays said.

Hays said CBI officials took numerous items from Bases' apartment on Steamboat Boulevard last week that could be potential evidence.

Searchers coordinated through the sheriff's office combed the sides of Central Park Drive near the new hospital on Friday, but Hays had no comment on whether the murder weapon has been located.

To reach Michelle Bales call 871-4208 #2or e-mail mbales@amigo.net