Woman Last Seen Alive By Socializing Co-Workers

A Spokane woman found dead in her South Hill apartment Thursday was last seen alive by co-workers who left her place early that morning, police said Friday.

Her traumatized body was found at about 5 p.m. after she failed to show up for work at a downtown McDonald’s restaurant.

Police identified the victim as Danielle Jean Shinaver, 25.

An autopsy conducted Friday revealed Shinaver died from head injuries, police spokesman Dick Cottam said. Details on the type of injuries and weapon were not released, Cottam said.

Lt. Jerry Oien said detectives had not determined a motive for the killing, but believe she may have known her attacker because there were no signs of forced entry to the apartment at 901 S. Lincoln.

Shinaver and co-workers who live in the same building were socializing Wednesday night in Shinaver’s apartment. Their get-together broke up at 2 a.m. and the co-workers left Shinaver by herself in her apartment, Oien said.

A co-worker discovered her body after she failed to show up at the restaurant at 517 W. Third.

A year ago, Shinaver’s name appeared in a news report as the victim of an assault. In that case, Shinaver and another woman got into an argument with a man after the three had been drinking, Spokane sheriff’s deputies said.

The man poured gasoline on the seat of a car in which they had been riding and set it afire. He claimed the women attacked him, but the man was booked for arson and assault.

, DataTimes