Autopsy Results for Woman Found Floating in Nippersink Lake Turn Up Few New Answers

FOX LAKE, IL - If you ask the neighbors of Mary Anton, they will say the 57-year-old woman died while trying to save her dog from Nippersink Lake over the weekend. Anton’s body was found floating near the body of her small, white dog, named Spike, in Nippersink Lake in the 200 block of Leisure Drive Saturday afternoon, according to media reports.

"She loved that little dog like it was one of her kids," a neighbor, who only wanted to be identified as Melissa, told the Lake County News-Sun.

Other neighbors told the newspaper they think Anton may have hurt herself while trying to save her dog or stumbled into the water with her dog, the newspaper reports.

But authorities are still not sure what lead to Anton’s death.

An autopsy performed Monday on Anton turned up few new answers. Orlando Portillo, a deputy chief in the Lake County Coroner’s Office, said no cause of death was determined during the autopsy and further investigation is needed. The coroner is awaiting results from toxicology tests.

Meanwhile, Fox Lake Police Chief Russell Laine told the Daily Herald an investigation is ongoing. He said authorities believe Anton’s cause of death will eventually be ruled as accidental or as a suicide.

A preliminary investigation revealed there was no evidence of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma to Anton or her dog.

A day before Anton’s death, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office posted a missing person alert for Anton. Anton, the alert stated, was considered “endangered.” She had a history of mental illness and left home without her medication. Her cell phone and purse were left at her home.

Fox Lake police officials are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact them at 847-587-3100.