Tarantino film editor dies on hike in LA hills

[October 23, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An award-winning film editor has died while hiking in the Hollywood Hills during a record Southern California heat wave.

Assistant coroner Ed Winter confirmed Tuesday that the body found along a Griffith Park trail is 56-year-old Sally Menke, who edited every Quentin Tarantino film from "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992 to "Inglourious Basterds" last year. Identification was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The body was found at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday along a remote Beachwood Canyon hiking trail. Her black Labrador retriever was nearby.

The cause of death hasn't been determined, but Winter says there is no sign of foul play. He wouldn't disclose details or speculate whether heat may factored in her death.

Menke had gone hiking Monday, when temperatures in Los Angeles peaked at 113 degrees.

[Associated Press]

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