Detectives are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a motel room.
North Port detectives also found two monkeys in the room and a man who they said was incoherent. Authorities were called to the Budget Inn at 14000 Tamiami Trail in North Port on Friday afternoon.
Capuchin monkeys removed from room. In good hands. pic.twitter.com/nllRD3w7kQ
— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) January 29, 2016
"Well (this is) probably a first for us. We called Florida Fish and Wildlife. They were in the crates. They weren't running around in the room,” Josh Taylor, North Port PD Public Information Officer said.
Taylor said the monkeys belonged to the man who was staying in the room. He said the monkeys were permitted.
One of the managers at the motel told ABC Action News the unidentified man and the woman checked in Thursday for one night; they were supposed to check out at 11 a.m. on Friday. When they did not, the other manager knocked on the door and when no one answered opened it.
Authorities said this was an isolated incident. They said the man was acting erratically when they showed up and they said woman's body was on the bed. Detectives identified her as Linda Marie Smith of Arcadia.
NPPD is currently investigating a suspicious death at the Budget Inn at 14000 Tamiami Trl. Updates when available. pic.twitter.com/eVtgtjNKUj
— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) January 29, 2016
Detectives believe Smith had been dead for several hours and they did not see any signs of trauma on her body. They also told ABC Action News they found a note in the room, but they did not release what the note said.
“It is obviously a strange situation. I think we have to keep in mind that somebody did pass away here. Our goal is to figure out did she do it on her own or did someone do it for her,” Taylor said.
Detectives are waiting for autopsy results to come back to determine how Smith died.
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