Woman’s death ruled a suicide

Published 5:00 am Tuesday, May 17, 2005

California officials said on Monday that a Redmond woman, who went missing from a houseboat party in Lake Shasta on May 7, hung herself on nearby Slaughterhouse Island.

According to a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office news release, 22-year-old Gina Zalunardo used a piece of clothing she took with her to commit suicide. The cause of death was listed as asphyxiation through hanging.

Shasta County Officials are not releasing additional information about the suicide. The Zalunardo family has requested the office not disclose further details.

Zalunardo’s body was found, after extensive ground and water searches, in heavy brush near the summit of the island five days after she went missing. Capt. Dave Compomizzo of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said at the time of the body’s discovery that there were no obvious signs of trauma. ”What we were trying to say there was that there was no sign of trauma by another,” Compomizzo said Monday.

”We wanted to put the public’s mind at ease that she hadn’t died from injuries caused by someone else,” Compomizzo said.

Zalunardo was last seen at about 6 p.m. on May 7 after an argument with her boyfriend on one of 42 connected houseboats. Friends reported her missing the next morning.

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office used divers, patrol boats and a helicopter to conduct the searches for the Oregon State University student.

Gina Zalunardo is survived by her parents, David and Cindy, her brother Michael, her paternal and maternal grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

The parents did not return a phone call on Monday.

A service will be held on Saturday, May 21, at 1 p.m. at the Powell Butte Christian Church. Memorial contributions may be made in Gina’s name to the Wildland Firefighters Foundation at 2049 Airport Way, Boise, Idaho 83705. Anyone with questions can call the foundation at 208-336-2996.

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