DA: Easthampton woman died of 'violent assault'

EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) -- Authorities have identified the woman found dead in her Easthampton apartment over the holiday weekend, but are still not calling her death a homicide.

The district attorney's office says 39-year-old Jessica Ann Pripstein was found dead in her apartment early Monday morning by police responding to a 911 call. And although she "apparently died from a violent assault," prosecutors did not say exactly how she died.

An autopsy is scheduled.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney says authorities do not believe the death was a random act and there is no danger to the public.

Easthampton has not had a murder since 1999.

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