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Platte City native killed in Belize

Posted at 4:21 PM, Jan 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-16 17:21:16-05

An autopsy on the body of a U.S. tourist found dead in western Belize has determined that she was strangled to death.

The post-mortem report prepared by Dr. Leyden Ken says Anne Swaney was killed by "asphyxia due to compression of the neck area, throttling and blunt force traumatic injuries to the head and neck."

The 39-year-old woman worked for ABC-Channel 7 in Chicago. Swaney was originally from Platte City, Mo. Her body was discovered floating face-down in the Mopan River, which flows from Belize into Guatemala.

Her belongings were later found on a deck by the riverside where she had gone to do yoga exercises.

Police Superintendent Daniel Arzu told local television Friday night that an unidentified Guatemalan national who was fishing in the area was being questioned but denies any involvement in her death.

Swaney was a guest at the Nabitunich resort in the Cayo district when she was reported missing Thursday.