Body found near Winfield

ONLINE EXTRA - Name released of woman found dead

A woman's body was discovered early Saturday morning under the railroad overpass on U.S. 77 approximately one mile south of Winfield. The woman was identified as Beatriz "Betty" Halverstadt, 42, Winfield.

Halverstadt's body was found by a BNSF train crew. According to Sheriff Don Read, a call came in to the Cowley County Sheriff's Department from the train crew at 7:55.

Undersheriff Bill Mueller says investigators have narrowed down the time of Halverstadt's death to sometime between 2 a.m. and when the train crew found her.

Halverstadt's car was found along side of the road further south on U.S. 77. Halverstadt's body was removed from the scene by 11:30 a.m., but police trackers continued to look for clues as to how Halverstadt's body ended up under the bridge. They remained on the scene after 1 p.m.

When questioned about the circumstances of the death, Read said he could not speculate if it was a suicide, an accident or something else.

"We treat every death (such as this) as 'suspicious'", said Read. "What we're trying to do now is create a timeline of her last movements."

"She appeared to have gone over the edge of the bridge," Mueller said, "how, we don't yet know."

Read anticipates an autopsy will be performed on Monday.

If anyone saw a woman walking north along U.S. 77 last night or early this morning, they are urged to call the Cowley County Sheriff's Department at 221-5444 or Crimestoppers at 221-7777.