Months-long Los Altos death investigation comes to a close

LOS ALTOS – The combined use of alcohol and various drugs has been identified as the cause of death for a 74-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman whose bodies were found earlier this year at a residence in Los Altos, police announced Tuesday.

There was no indication of foul play or intentional death, the Los Altos Police Department said in a final update on the case.

“Los Altos police extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of Steven Hooper and Chris Cryer,” police said. “We ask the Los Altos community … to allow the families time to mourn and grieve this latest update with privacy.”

Officers discovered the bodies around 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 16 while conducting a welfare check at a residence in the 200 block of West Edith Avenue, according to police.

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office and the police department investigated the case. Police said toxicology reports indicated the cause of death for both Hooper and Cryer was the combined use of alcohol and various drugs.

In the wake of the investigation, police urged residents struggling with substance abuse to contact Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services at 800-704-0900 or visit bhsd.santaclaracounty.gov. The agency offers treatment services for adults.