6-year-old daughter sought help for mother found dead in Austin apartment

Published 10:32 am Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Police have released the name of a 36-year-old woman who was found dead in her apartment last week.

Marissa Madson

Marissa Marie Madson, of Austin, was found dead in her home at Bremerton Apartments Thursday morning around 6:30 a.m.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but Police Chief Brian Krueger said autopsy results will be available in the coming weeks. No foul play is suspected, and no trauma was found on her body.

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Maria Acosta, manager at Bremerton Apartments, said Madson’s 6-year-old daughter had knocked on neighbors’ doors seeking help for her mother the morning of the death.

Eventually a neighbor checked on her, believed her to be deceased and called 911, Krueger said. He said Madson had only been dead a short time when police arrived.

Madson’s death comes four years after the death of her fiance, Jose Carlos “Joe” Rodriguez, who died of hypothermia after he crashed his car. The crash took place in October of 2006, but Rodriguez’ body was not recovered until April of 2007.

Acosta described Madson as a friend of hers and a loving mother. She said Madson moved to Bremerton with her daughter after the death of Rodriguez, who was the girl’s father.

“Marissa was traumatized by Joe’s death,” Acosta said. “But she was out there every day at the bus stop with that little girl.”

According to Madson’s obituary, she was preceded in death by her grandparents, infant daughter and her step-father, Leland Olson.

Acosta said Madson’s 6-year-old daughter is being taken care of by Rodriguez’ family.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Acosta. “But the tragedy is also the child.”