Body of a woman, 2 live monkeys found in Florida hotel room

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North Port police

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) – Authorities say the body of a woman was found along with two live monkeys in a hotel room in southwest Florida.

North Port city spokesman Josh Taylor says 59-year-old Linda Marie Smith of Arcadia was found dead Friday at the Budget Inn.

Taylor tells the Herald Tribune that two capuchin monkeys were found in carriers in Smith’s room.

Taylor says police plan to interview a man who also had been found incoherent in the room. The man hasn’t been identified.

An autopsy is pending. Taylor says there were no signs of trauma to Smith’s body.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission took custody of the monkeys. Spokesman Robert Klepper says the animals would be placed with someone licensed to own a capuchin monkey as an exotic pet.

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