VENTURA : Transient Found Dead in River Bottom

A 38-year-old woman transient whose body was found in the Ventura River bottom Friday died of meningitis, authorities said.

Paramedics declared Debbie Cayton dead about 11:45 a.m. after she was discovered by another transient about a quarter-mile north of the Main Street overpass, Ventura County Deputy Coroner Craig Stevens said. Meningitis is an inflammation of membranes near the brain, brought on by bacterial infection. Symptoms include severe headaches and fever.

“It is most commonly contracted from having a poor immune system,” he said. “It is nothing contagious.”

Stevens said Cayton made her home on the river bottom.

“Living in the river bottom is not the healthiest lifestyle,” Stevens said. He said Cayton is survived by two daughters who live with their grandmother in Ventura.