| 112th Year, 18th Issue | Thursday, December 14, 2000 | Sparta, North Carolina |
The Nov. 29 death of 22-year-old Gloria Vera is being investigated as an accident after an autopsy report that came in late last week, according to Capt. Carlton Edwards of the Sparta/Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department.
Edwards said the autopsy report showed that the gunshot to Vera's abdominal region was a close contact wound, which would be consistent with a self-inflicted wound.
"This was most likely a self-inflicted wound," Edwards said. "The medical examiner said that Vera most likely had a very high alcohol content" in her body, he added.
According to Edwards, 21-year-old Adrian Olvera, who lived in the mobile home on Higgins Road, was in the room with Vera when the incident occurred. Olvera told deputies that Vera was "playing with the gun," Edwards said.
The weapon was a .38 pistol.
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