Man and woman found dead in hot tub identified

The King County Medical Examiner on Tuesday identified the man and woman found dead Sunday night in a hot tub in the 34900 block of 26th Avenue South between Auburn and Federal Way as Paul A. Craig, 50, and Karen P. Rowland, 42.

The Medical Examiner is waiting for toxicology results to determine the cause of death. Craig and Rowland both had Auburn mailing addresses. They were not married.

King County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said a friend of the homeowner, Craig, had grown concerned because she hadn’t seen him in 24 hours and was checking on him when she discovered the bodies in the hot tub in the backyard. Investigators called to the house at 34918 26th Ave. S. about 6:45 p.m. found no apparent injuries, no signs of homicidal violence and no signs of suicide on either person.

“That only leaves an accidental death,” Urquhart said. “So far, we haven’t pinpointed the reason for the death, but we are looking closely at the wiring of the hot tub. But again, no definitive conclusion at this point.”