Misty Upham Cause Of Death Revealed: Actress Died From Blunt Force Trauma

Misty Upham’s cause of death has finally been revealed. According to the King County medical examiner’s office, the 32-year-old Native American actress died from blunt force trauma. People reported that a Seattle-area medical examiner determined Upham’s death was caused by “blunt-force injuries to her head and torso.” However, her manner of death has not been decided. In other words, the medical examiner has not ruled whether her passing was suicide, homicide, an accident, etc.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Misty Upham died tragically of an apparent suicide in October of last year. Her lifeless body was discovered more than a week after she was reported missing by her concerned father. An uncle found her lying at the bottom of a 150-foot embankment near the White River in Auburn and contacted authorities. Upham’s purse was near the body; it contained her identification card, but it was her uncle who provided a positive identification of the body.

At the time of her initial disappearance, family remembers reported that the actress had been suicidal. However, her death has not officially been ruled a suicide, and her father has since denied the rumors that she took her own life. Auburn police do not suspect foul play in the tragedy, but details surrounding the fatal incident remain unclear. Shortly after the discovery of her body, her family insisted she died while eluding police, according to Leesville Daily Leader.

Back in October, famous friend Juliette Lewis called for an investigation into Misty Upham’s death, reported the Inquisitr. Lewis said she believed her friend’s passing was caused by something more sinister than an accident or suicide. The actress even took to Twitter to voice her concerns, sharing information that Upham was worried about being murdered for being vocal about violence on Native American reservations.

“Misty told me about horrible violence she suffered on NA reservations She felt she coul be murdered! Bcuz she was vocal. #thisisnotasuicide.”

Misty Upham’s Twitter profile describes the late actress as a West Hollywood “2009 Indie Spirit Nominee, Meryl Streep co-star in August: Osage County, Native American, animal activist, serious thespian… a**-kicker-of-you!” The last message she posted before her death accompanied a photo of a helpless bird tied to a tree by its leg on the Muckleshoot Reservation, which was established in 1857.

In addition to her role as housekeeper Johnna Monevata in the Meryl Streep film August: Osage County, Upham had an uncredited role in Django Unchained. According to her IMDb page, she will appear as Tina Walsh in the movie Crawlspace, which is currently in post-production with a release date of 2015.

[Image via Misty Upham Twitter]