Authorities Investigating Friday Death

Authorities are completing their investigation into a local death.

At approximately 8:31 pm Friday, the Effingham City Police Department and Rural Med EMS responded to a report of an unresponsive female at 504 N. Henrietta St. in Effingham. Upon arrival, the officers found the resident in one of the apartments deceased.

The individual was identified as Dayton Painter, age 18 of Effingham. Effingham Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit and the Effingham County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene. Dayton Painter was transported to the HSHS St. Anthony Hospital morgue. Medical records were requested from several physicians involved in her health care.

An autopsy was conducted on Saturday in Bloomington. Preliminary results indicate the death is from natural causes due to a severe medical issue, however the final autopsy result will not be available for approximately three weeks. The incident remains under investigation by the Effingham City Police Department and the Effingham County Coroner’s Office.