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Eden Valley woman dies after apparent fall into backyard fire pit

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Sep 27, 2011 at 8:40 am

EDEN VALLEY, Minn. (KNSI) - Investigators believe alcohol may have contributed to the death of an Eden Valley woman after she fell into a backyard fire pit early Monday, according to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.

Bonita Schwandt, 57, of Eden Valley was pronounced dead at her home on the 500 block of Stearns Avenue West in Eden Valley just before 1:30 a.m. Monday, Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said.

Schwandt's boyfriend told investigators that Schwandt had been sitting alone by the fire pit. Her body was discovered when he went outside to check on her and found her in the burning pit, Sanner said.

Her body was taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

Sanner said the initial findings as well as forensic testing at the scene indicates alcohol was likely a contributing factor in Schwandt's death.