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What happened to Misty Upham? Her father's version of events

Misty Upham's body was found Friday in a ravine near her Auburn, Wash., home. Misty Upham's father writes that the actress was fleeing from Auburn police when she died. It was not suicide, he says. 

  • By Staff Associated Press

| Seattle

The King County medical examiner has confirmed that a body found in a ravine in the Seattle suburb of Auburn is that of missing actress Misty Upham, known for her roles in "August: Osage County," ''Frozen River" and "Django Unchained."

In a statement, the medical examiner's office said Friday that the 32-year-old woman died Oct. 5. That's the day her family told police that the Native American actress was suicidal. Relatives reported her missing the next day. The medical examiner said the cause and manner of death are pending investigation.

Auburn police spokesman Steve Stocker said the body was found Thursday near the White River. Items with Upham's name on them were found nearby. He said there was no evidence of foul play.

A family friend found the body while a group of friends and family were searching in the area.

Misty's father Charles Upham said that his daughter's death was 'accidental' and that she may have been fleeing from Auburn police, in a statement on Facebook.

She did not commit suicide. We believe she ran into the wooded area behind her apartment to hide from the police. The area in question has a hidden drop off and evidence suggests that she slipped and fell off of the steep embankment when she tried to get out of a view from the road. She simply did not see the drop off... 

Misty was afraid of the Auburn PD officiers with good reason. In an incident prior to her disappearance, the Auburn PD came to pick up Misty on an involuntary transport to the ER. She was cuffed and placed in a police car. Some of the officiers began to taunt and tease her while she was in the car. Because it was dark they couldn't see that we, her family, were outside our apartment just across the street witnessing this behavior. They were tapping on the window making faces at her. Misty was crying and she told them you can't treat me like this I'm a movie actress and I will use my connections to expose you. Then another officer walked up to her asked "are you a movie star?, then why don't complain to George Clooney!" 

People magazine reported that on the day Misty Upham disappeared, police responded to her apartment after a call that Upham may have been suicidal, but when officers arrived Upham had already left. 
Auburn Police commander Steve Stocker declined to comment when People magazine asked by about Charles's accusations, other than to dispute Charles's claim that Stocker himself had animosity against Misty due to a previous encounter: "I had never met Misty or talked to her," Stocker told People.

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