The discovery of a young woman found dead in her bed in Kinston Tuesday has shocked residents of the small town in west Coffee County, Kinston Police Chief Russ Young said.

“It is being called a suspicious death,” Young said Tuesday afternoon. “It was reported as an unresponsive female. We don’t know the cause of death yet; we are waiting on the autopsy results.”

Young said the victim, 30-year-old Alicia Martin, was found dead inside her Kinston home on Pierce Street, where three young children were also staying.

“The three kids are between the ages of one and five,” Young said. “I notified DHR, and they came and placed them with family members.”

Young said details are sketchy at this time, but added that no evidence of foul play has been uncovered thus far.

“We’ve talked with a couple of people, but there were a lot of rumors flying around right off the bat,” Young said. “But as of now, we’re not ruling anything out, but we do not expect foul play at this time.”

Young said more details will be released once police officials have obtained the autopsy results.