A woman was found dead Monday morning in a snow-slicked alley near the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood as St. Louis shivered through an Arctic cold snap and an Extreme Cold Warning. Police have not released her name or an official cause of death.
Police response and investigation
Officers responding to a call located the woman in an alley in the Wells-Goodfellow area, according to KSDK. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department handled the initial response, and the outlet reported that the case remains active and will be updated as authorities release more details.
Arctic blast and forecasts
The discovery came as an Arctic blast drove temperatures well below freezing across the metro area. The National Weather Service warned that wind chills could plunge into the negative-20s, as reported by St. Louis Public Radio, while local forecasts from First Alert showed overnight lows near −4°F and wind chills near −15°F. Snow and ice left many streets slick during the cold spell, ratcheting up the danger for anyone stuck outside overnight.
City shelters and Code Blue activation
The City of St. Louis moved to its highest Code Blue activation in response to the severe cold and added roughly 600 emergency shelter beds, according to a press release from the mayor's office. Officials opened walk-up shelters, designated rally points and offered shuttle transportation, and urged residents to call the United Way 211 helpline for assistance as the life-threatening temperatures persisted.
Investigation ongoing
Police say the investigation is ongoing and have not released a cause of death. KSDK reports that more information will be shared as it becomes available. Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Homicide Division at (314) 444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS, according to the department's website.
