Former Piedmont Woman Found Dead in Beach Town

A former Piedmont woman has been found dead at the bottom of a well in a beach town in Southwest Mexico, according to a spokeswoman for the  U.S. Consulate in Ixtapa.
     
Consular agent Elizabeth Williams said the body of 59-year-old Elizabeth Grunewald was found May 3 several blocks away from her house in  Playa Azul, Michoacan, near Ixtapa.

Local police believe Grunewald had been dead for three or four days, Williams said.

Two American citizens have been arrested in connection with Grunewald's death, according to Williams.

But Williams said she can't disclose the suspects' names or say much else about the case because of privacy rules, as the consulate works  with American citizens who are arrested in the area.

However, Williams said it seems clear that Grunewald's death was suspicious.

"It's not normal to die in a well," she said.

Williams said Grunewald graduated from Piedmont High School but  she doesn't think Grunewald spent much time in Piedmont after that.

"She traveled a great deal in her life," Williams said.

Williams said she knew Grunewald well and considered her to be a friend.

She said Grunewald was "a fascinating person" and "an adventurer" who once hitchhiked all the way from Chile to San Francisco.

"She would take all the risks and would still hitchhike to this day in Mexico, which is high risk," Williams said.

She called Grunewald "a good person who was well-liked and didn't have any enemies and was a good neighbor."

Williams said Grunewald's parents still live in California but she's not sure if they're still in the Bay Area. She said Grunewald visited  her parents frequently.

Williams said Grunewald had a sister who died of an illness when she was young.

She said she's not aware of any funeral arrangements for Grunewald  at this time.