Cause of mom's fiery death found

BERNALILLO, N.M. (KRQE) - Investigators say a young mother whose body was found in her burned out car last spring was not murdered.

Arson, crash investigators and detectives went over the case for a very long time. What they discovered was a sad, tragic death for the mother of four.

Detectives say Olivia Lovato, 25, struggled with an addiction that was likely a big piece of the puzzle that led to her death.

Her body was found in a burned car on State Route 165 above Placitas near Sandia Man Cave on June 9. Detectives say Lovato had visited a friend in Albuquerque and was driving back to Rio Rancho.

They say she probably meant to turn left in Bernalillo toward Rio Rancho but instead turned right toward the mountains.

They think her judgment that night was impaired. An autopsy showed she had a high amount of meth in her system when she crashed her car.

Investigators say a broken fuel line likely started the car fire. They say Lovato should have been able to get out but didn’t.

“The drugs probably affected her ability to determine whether or not she was in any danger or she fell asleep,” said Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department Detective Robert Baron.

They say there was a lot of carbon monoxide in her system as well. The car, with the mother of four inside, went up in flames.

“Once the fire started, she never tried to exit the vehicle,” Baron said. Detectives say Lovato was alone, and they do not suspect foul play in her death.

As for her children, KRQE News 13 has been told they are together and are doing well.