CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Unanswered questions surround the December death of a Thornton Academy alumnus.
Joyce Bonenberger-Brough, 51, her husband, Dennis Brough, 50, and son, Trevor Brough, 11, were found dead in a house fire in a subdivision outside of Casa Grande, Ariz. on Dec. 13.
Bonenberger-Brough was a 1980 graduate of Thornton Academy.
She and her son were found in two bedrooms of the home, and Brough was found in the garage, according to the Associated Press.
Autopsy reports released last week showed the husband and son died of smoke inhalation in the fire, which police are calling suspicious. But pathologists with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office reached no conclusion on the cause or manner of death for Bonenberger-Brough, The Arizona Republic reported.
According to autopsy reports, Bonenberger-Brough’s body had several skull fractures, but no soot was found in her lungs and there was no evidence of smoke inhalation. Authorities say it is still unclear if she suffered the injuries before or during the fire.
Bonenberger-Brough’s body tested positive for opiates, morphine and codeine, according to the report, while Trevor Brough tested positive for ethanol and unspecified analgesics.
Bonenberger-Brough was the chief of surgery at Casa Grande Regional Medical Center and had helped pioneer a breakthrough treatment for early stage breast cancer.
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