Memphis Police ID Body of Missing Elvis Fan Gerrie Lawrie

Police ID Body as Missing Elvis Fan Gerrie Lawrie: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

Memphis, Tn - The body of a woman found dead in a condo in the 600-block of Denmark has been positively identified as Scotland native and Elvis fan Gerrie Lawrie.

Police found the body on Monday and pronounced Lawrie dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation has suggested that her death was self-inflicted.

A Facebook page titled "In Loving Memory of Gerrie Lawrie" has been drawing the sympathetic comments of Elvis fans around the world.

Lawrie went missing during Elvis Week 2011.

Her disappearance in Memphis made headlines on the front page of the Press Journal, the local paper in her hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland.

According to the paper, Lawrie's boyfriend, Roger Williams, is on his way to Memphis to provide any help with the investigation into her death.

Other Elvis fans are shocked.

"This is one of those places, destination places where you come to have fun. It's always in the back of your mind, but that is one of the last things you want to have happen, so it is sad," said John Merrick.

BIM: I was contacted by the Commercial Appeal about this case, and directed them to Andrew Hearn of Essential Elvis who first broke the news. I never knew Gerrie and felt it was not my place to speak on behalf of Ms. Lawrie. Gerrie was a subscriber of Essential Elvis therefore the paper should speak with Hearn. Our hearts go out to all of Ms. Lawrie's friends and family.

A tourist visiting from Scotland for Elvis Week may have killed herself, Memphis police said Tuesday.

The body of Grazyna "Gerrie" Lawrie, 41, was found Monday morning in a Downtown condo she was renting at 612 Denmark, near the South Bluffs.

Police confirmed her identity Tuesday afternoon.

Although at least one resident of those condos has said there was screaming coming from that unit, police said evidence is pointing toward suicide.

Lawrie was visiting Memphis for the annual commemoration of Elvis Presley's death on Aug. 16, 1977. This was at least her sixth visit here.

Lawrie was last seen at about 11:50 p.m. Thursday at Second and Monroe. After she was reported missing Saturday, police went to the Downtown condo, but a cursory search turned up no signs of trouble.

Police were called back to the condo Monday after a cleaning service arrived there. They found Lawrie's rented SUV in the garage. They then found Lawrie in her bed, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said they are awaiting the results of an autopsy from the medical examiner before confirming a ruling of suicide. MPD spokeswoman Sgt. Karen Rudolph would not elaborate on why police think Lawrie took her own life.

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