Woman’s Body Found Floating In Lake Cda Hikers Discover Body; Identity Not Released, Cause Unknown

Hikers discovered a woman’s body Thursday afternoon floating in Lake Coeur d’Alene at the base of Tubbs Hill.

Police withheld the woman’s name and age pending notification of her relatives.

Detectives called to the scene had not determined by late Thursday what caused her death, Capt. Carl Bergh said.

An autopsy is scheduled for today in Spokane, he said.

Wayne Marlatt, 16, and three friends were walking along the west side of the Tubbs Hill trail about 4 p.m. when he noticed the adult woman in shallow water.

The group had been looking for a spot to take pictures.

Another hiker reported Marlatt’s discovery to officers at the police station a few blocks away.

“She was just in the water, and I went down and pulled her out,” Marlatt said.

Police quickly blocked off a trail that winds along the hill and turned away several hikers.

Officers took down the names of about a dozen people who were walking along the trail when the woman’s body was discovered.

“All of a sudden there were police who said, ‘This is a crime scene, stay high,”’ Chip Thomas said.

Detectives searched a maroon Subaru in the Third Steet Dock parking lot.

Bergh said the car, which had Washington license plates, belonged to the woman.

, DataTimes MEMO: The woman was identified as Vivian R. Courteau, 44, from Spokane.