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As detectives continued investigating what killed a woman found stuffed inside a bed frame in a Salt Lake City motel room, police sought help locating a person of interest.
Thursday afternoon police were looking for the public's help in locating Thomas Kumalac, 28, a person of interest in the case. The Salt Lake City Police Department spokespeople did not elaborate on why Kumalac drew interest.
Motel staff called 911 about 2:15 a.m. Thursday after finding the body, covered in a towel and hidden inside the bed's wooden frame, under the box spring and mattress at the Capitol Motel, 1749 S. State St.
Salt Lake City police Detective Mike Hamideh said investigators had been unable to identify the woman. They were hoping the medical examiner's autopsy and toxicology screening may provide more clues both to her name and the cause of death.
"It is important to note that at this point we have not determined this to be a homicide. This is a 'death investigation with suspicious circumstances,' " Hamideh said.
He declined to say whether detectives noticed any signs of trauma, or discuss whether the death may have been drug-related. "We won't know much more until the medical examiner is done," Hamideh said.
The body was believed to have been in the room for at least one day, possibly more. Motel employees had gone to the unit after a guest renting the room had complained about an unpleasant odor.