(UPDATE: 6p.m.)The cause of death for the victim in the March shooting incident won’t be known until likely Thursday at the latest, according to Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris.
Harris said Julie Blanchard 52, died Monday afternoon in Wenatchee, Washington when she went into cardiac arrest on the way to a nearby hospital and went too long without oxygen.
Harris said despite an injury to Blanchard’s spine, she still had the sensory function of her lower extremities.
Blanchard was recovering from injuries at a rehabilitation facility in Washington, living near her sister, said Harris. He said her family wishes to donate her organs.
An autopsy will take place after the organs are harvested on Wednesday said, Harris.
MISSOULA – A victim in the March shooting incident that killed one man, critically wounded a Montana Highway Patrol trooper, and left another man a paraplegic has died.
Chelan County, Washington coroner Wayne Harris confirmed that Julie Blanchard died Monday afternoon in Wenatchee, Wash.
Harris will now investigate Blanchard’s cause of death.
Julie Blanchard, her son Casey Blanchard, and Shelley Hays were shot on March 14 off Expressway Boulevard when they pulled over after noticing a vehicle behind them had their flashing lights on.
When the three pulled over, suspect, Johnathan Bertsch, opened fire. Hays died on the scene. Both Casey and Julie Blanchard were transported to the hospital.
Bertsch was later arrested near Evaro after shooting Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer.
This past Saturday,Casey Blanchard returned home from a Salt Lake City hospital to his home in Stevensville. Palmer returned home also to Stevensville on May 22.
– Andrea Lutz, Connor McCauley and Melissa Rafferty reporting for MTN News
