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Coroner: Irregular heartbeat a role in Franklin County drowning

WHITTINGTON — A southern Illinois coroner says an 18-year-old woman likely had an irregular heartbeat that led to her drowning death last month in Rend Lake.

Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler tells KFVS-TV that those are the official findings of an autopsy on Emilie Joe Turrentine of Carmi.

Authorities say Turrentine was swimming with friends Sept. 2 when she slipped beneath the surface. Her body was found the next day in about 10 feet of water.

Authorities don’t believe alcohol or drugs played a part in her death and don’t believe foul play was involved.

Rend Lake is about 30 miles north of Carbondale.

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