BEVERLY — Cheryl Lurie, a 1973 graduate of Beverly High School, was found dead this week in her hometown of Aspen, Colo. Police there are not ruling out foul play.
"Right now, we're not ruling out anything," said Aspen police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro.
Lurie, whom locals may remember by her maiden name of York, was 54.
Her body was found in the snow Monday at 10:30 a.m. in a park next to Pitkin County Library. She died of blunt-force head trauma.
Police believe she died late Sunday night or early Monday morning, Dasaro said, and are looking for anyone who may have seen her Sunday evening in downtown Aspen. Police are working to piece together a time line of events leading up to her death.
"We're following all leads," Dasaro said.
Lurie moved from Beverly about 30 years ago and was a longtime Aspen local. Kathy Sonia, a Beverly cousin, was about 10 when Lurie left the area.
"She went out there to visit and fell in love with it," Sonia said. "I remember I was so sad, because she was one of my favorite cousins."
She describes Lurie as a free spirit.
"She was such a sweet, happy-go-lucky person, full of life," Sonia said.
Lurie worked as a waitress and volunteered in the community, particularly at the local Elks Club.
Sonia said Lurie has been back to Beverly over the years to visit family and friends.
She lived in Aspen with her husband, Martin. Police Chief Richard Pryor said she'll be missed.
"While it is a rare occurrence to have an incident like this happen in our community, we wish to express our condolences to Cheryl's family and friends," he said.
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salem news.com.
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
