MANISTIQUE – A suspect in a triple homicide case who died in custody died of natural causes, according to the results of an autopsy report released Friday.

It has been more than three months since the death of Marietta Carlson, a suspect in a triple homicide in Schoolcraft County.

Carlson was one of three suspects in the murder of sisters Heather Aldrich, 25, and Carrie Nelson, 31, both of the Newberry area, and Nelson’s boyfriend Jody Hutchinson, 42, of Gould City. The bodies of the victims were discovered on April 17 inside Hutchinson’s 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada, which had been lit on fire, on County Road 436, also known as River Road, in Doyle Township.

Early on the morning of June 15, Carlson was transported from her cell at the Schoolcraft County Jail to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital for exhibiting “symptomatic behavior.” She died on June 16.

An autopsy was conducted on Carlson’s remains at Upper Peninsula Health Systems – Marquette the day after her death. Results released Friday indicate that Carlson’s death was natural and caused by endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart.

According to the Mayo Clinic, endocarditis is generally caused by bacteria from another part of the body spreading through the bloodstream and attaching to damaged areas of the heart. It is uncommon in people with healthy hearts; however, risk factors include artificial heart valves, congenital heart defects, damaged heart valves, or a history of intravenous illegal drug use.

At the time of her death, the 28-year-old was facing eight felony charges related to the murders including one count of open murder, one count of conspiracy to commit open murder, three counts of first-degree murder, and three counts of unlawful imprisonment.

Carlson’s codefendants, Gary Cordell, 47, of Manistique, and Kenneth Daniel Brunke, 46, also of Manistique, each face 12 felony charges related to the murders. The charges are: three counts of open murder, each a life felony; three counts of conspiracy to commit homicide, each a life felony with an additional $10,000 fine; three counts of felony murder first degree, each sentence punishable by life without parole; and three counts of unlawful imprisonment, a felony under the Sex Offender Registration Act punishable by 15 years and/or $20,000 and registration in the sex offender registry.

Both Cordell and Brunke will receive psychiatric evaluations to determine if they are fit to stand trial prior to their preliminary examinations. The defenses for both men assert that their clients have a history of depression and there is a possibility of other mental illnesses.

According to a police affidavit – a public court document which offered probable cause for an arrest warrant against Brunke – Cordell was known by Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) detectives to be Brunke’s cocaine dealer.

The three victims were also known cocaine users.

In the affidavit, Cordell told officers Aldrich had stolen a PVC pipe containing approximately one ounce of cocaine from Brunke, and that prior to the fire, he had been instructed by Brunke to dispose of the girl’s purses and identification.

An unnamed witness told officers she drove Cordell to the Merwin Creek Campground where he disposed of the victims’ belongings in the river.

Cordell also claimed he had witnessed Brunke light the Bravada on fire, and had followed Brunke to the scene driving Brunke’s vehicle. Brunke then allegedly drove his own vehicle back to his home, taking Cordell with him and asking Cordell to throw Hutchinson’s keys out the window on U.S. 2 as they traveled.

Carlson is not named in the affidavit.

Preliminary examinations for the two surviving defendants are scheduled in October.