IMO, the COD may very well end up being "undetermined" due to the time lapse between her disappearance and the discovery of her body. In that case I think LE and the DA will still have a case based on other evidence, so I remain hopeful.
As far as her death being called "unnatural" I don't think it means anything other than the importance of LE stressing that Mariah did not die from a natural cause in order to lay a foundation of violence in the home as defined by N.C. law, and I would include that to mean no anaphalactic shock, heart attack, ketoacidosis, liver or kidney failure, a burst spleen or appendix or anything even remotely related.
IMO "unnatural" as used by LE means Mariah died by the hands of another and the term was used as a precurser for charges yet to come. Right now LE can take their time accumulating evidence but once they bring charges of murder to anyone then the clock starts ticking and they are compelled to present their evidence in a speedy manner. There is no statute of limitation on murder so why would they bring charges before they have all their ducks in a row?
And as far as a "natural" death is concerned IMO the odds are stacked against that being the case. We have some evidence that Earl acted out violently when he was not happy and we have some evidence that there was physical and sexual abuse in the home. Even the neighbors reported frequent fighting being heard in the home. It's unlikely that all the reports are false and all the people making claims are lying.
If I had to guess (so IMOO) I'd say Mariah died from blunt force trauma, perhaps with strangulation also. IMO the odds of SA are high but may or may not be present. I also believe physical abuse had been going on for some time and the mother may or may not have participated and if not may have chosen to say nothing.
All MOO.
