Karen Marie Esquibel, ID'd as woman found in Lakewood parking lot, dies of exposure

Update: Lakewood Police were able to identify the woman found in the parking lot of a Lakewood apartment complex at 5 a.m. this bitterly cold morning as Karen Marie Esquibel, 48. But while a Lakewood police spokesman was initially optimistic that she would survive, it was not to be. She died earlier today -- of exposure, authorities believe, and not criminal conduct.

Here's a new LPD release with the grim news:

Woman Found Parking Lot Dies, Police Release Her Identity

At about 5:00 am this morning, Lakewood police responded to the area of 12th Ave. & Balsam St. at the Highland Square Apartments, to investigate the report of a female found lying in the parking lot of the complex.

The female was unresponsive and had no apparent injuries. It is unknown how long she had been in the parking lot however she was experiencing extreme hypothermia. She was transported to a local hospital by paramedics.

Detectives have identified the female as 48-year-old Karen Marie Esquibel (06-02-62). Esquibel died at about noon today.

At this time police have no evidence to suggest that the female was the victim of any criminal activity, and feel that her death was result of exposure.

Original item, 9 a.m.: The bitter cold we've been experiencing this week is expected to ease today -- but not in time to help a forty-something woman with a Dallas Cowboys jacket found unconscious and freezing in the parking lot of a Lakewood apartment complex around 5 a.m.

Local police have no idea who she is or what happened to her, and at this writing, she's in no condition to end the mystery.

Hospital personnel "expect her to make it," notes Lakewood Police Department public information officer Steve Davis. "They said there may be some frostbite in her extremities. But they do expect her to live."

Moreover, the LPD has no indication at this point that a crime has taken place. "There was no trauma to her body that we could see," Davis reports. "And she was clothed. But she had obviously been out there for quite some time. Her body temperature was quite low."

Without ID or help from the woman themselves, the police department has issued a description of the woman in the hope of figuring out who she is and how she happened to find herself in the parking lot of the Highland Square Apartments on a dangerously cold morning. It's included in the following release:

Police Ask for Assistance in Identifying Woman Found Lying in Snow

At about 5:00 am this morning, Lakewood police responded to the area of 12th Ave. & Balsam St. at the Highland Square Apartments, to investigate the report of a female found lying in the parking lot of the complex.

The female was unresponsive and had no apparent injuries. It is unknown how long she had been in the parking lot however she was experiencing extreme hypothermia. She was transported to a local hospital by paramedics.

The female's identity in unknown however she is described as a white female possibly in her late 40s approx. 5' 7" 95 lbs with black shoulder length hair and brown eyes. She has a slight deformity in her right hand and two tattooed dots on her upper left arm. She was also missing her front teeth. Lying close to her was a Dallas Cowboys jacket. She was wearing gray sweats, a gray tee shirt and white shoes.

At this time police have no evidence to suggest any criminal activity had occurred. They will however continue their investigation and attempt to identify the female.

Anyone who feels that they may have information that would assist detectives is asked to call the Lakewood Police Department at 303-987-7111.

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