Police: No foul play in Sammamish woman's drowning

Police don’t believe there was any foul play in the drowning of Barbara Mitchell, a long-time Valley Medical Center executive.

Mitchell’s son found her body in a pond along Pine-Lake Road Aug. 8, several hours after she had left for a walk.

The 66-year-old had setup a picnic with food and a towel by the shore, said King County Sheriff’s Sgt. Cindi West.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined she drowned, but didn’t find any other major health problems that could have lead to the drowning.

Sometime after 10 a.m., Mitchell left her husband a note that she was going on walk near the Rainbow Lake area. She was known to take long walks by herself, so he didn’t suspect anything was wrong until he got a message from her doctor saying she had missed an appointment that afternoon.

The son found her about the same time police arrived on the corner of SE 44th St. and Pine-Lake Road.

Mitchell was known for her vivacious spirit and love for her family and career. Working at Valley Medical since 1999, she was the president of human resources.

“She was smart, insightful, compassionate and a friend, and will be missed by so many on both a professional and personal level,” said Rich Roodman, CEO, Valley Medical Center

She is survived by her husband Robb; son, Jordan Miller; daughter-in-law, Mistilyn Miller; grandson, Zayden; and granddaughter, Adel.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the Healing Garden at Valley Medical Center.

 

Contact Issaquah Reporter Staff Writer Celeste Gracey at cgracey@issaquahreporter.com or 425-391-0363.

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