Sheriff backtracks on cause of woman's death at Rainbow gathering

Skamania County sheriff's Detective Monty Buettner said Thursday that authorities have no evidence that a drug overdose caused the death of 28-year-old Amber Kellar, of Weed, Calif.

Kellar died Wednesday, and The Columbian on Thursday reported that officials believed the death at the Rainbow Family Gathering was a suspected drug overdose.

"We don't have any information that the cause of death was a drug overdose," Buettner said. "At this point, we don't know the cause of death, and we won't know the cause of death until the medical examiner's investigation is complete."

On Wednesday, Skamania County Sheriff Dave Brown said Kellar died from an apparent drug overdose. He admitted this afternoon he "probably stepped over the line" suggesting Kellar died from drug use, before he consulted with Buettner.

Kimberly Kellar, 30, of New York state, said she believes her sister did not die of a drug overdose because she said Amber Kellar did not use drugs.

The Clark County Medical Examiner's Office Thursday morning said they had not yet received Amber Kellar's body. An official said it would take six to eight weeks to receive toxicology reports to determine if drugs were a factor in the death.

Buettner said, "I have not heard any evidence of a drug overdose."

He said Amber Kellar was found unconscious near a group of tents. He said there was "no sign of physical injuries."

Paramedics attempted lifesaving techniques but were unsuccessful.

Buettner said he was told no drugs were found at the scene of Amber Kellar's death.

The Rainbow Family Gathering at Skookum Meadows ended Thursday.