The death of 13-year-old Krystal Bateson continues to perplex doctors and forensic pathologists.

The Baldwin girl, who died unexpectedly June 13 while staying in Winfield for a softball tournament, may have been stricken by viral myocarditis, or a cold of the heart, said Dr. Bryan Dennett, Cowley County coroner.

But evidence of a cold in Krystal’s heart is too subtle to provide a clear or certain explanation of her death, Dennett said. He authorized Krystal’s heart slide specimens to be sent to the Mayo Clinic last week for further examination and diagnosis.

“Nothing has come back very startling,” he said. “It’s very bizarre.”

Dennett said he had seen two other cases of viral myocarditis since he took office as county coroner in January.

“People get colds or viruses that infect their hearts all the time,” he said. “It just isn’t always deadly.”

Flulike symptoms usually accompany a cold of the heart, Dennett said. But Krystal had been playing softball all day and those close to her may not have noticed anything but fatigue, Dennett said.

Krystal’s mother, Theresa Bateson, reportedly noticed her daughter was ill while they were at a motel and took Krystal to the hospital.

Because of processing, a formal autopsy report could take another month.