HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police are investigating the death of a 51-year-old woman found early yesterday in a Hilo apartment where she was staying as a house guest.

Police were called to the Pu'ueo apartment at 4:46 a.m., and found the body of Roberta June Whitehouse, who had no permanent address.

Police Lt. Mitchell Kanehailua said a preliminary examination at Hilo Medical Center did not reveal any obvious signs of trauma on Whitehouse's body, and said there was no indication there had been a struggle or argument.

However, the 48-year-old woman who lives permanently at the apartment made statements to detectives that led police to arrest her on suspicion of murder.

Hilo detectives executed a search warrant on the apartment later yesterday to look for further evidence, but the woman who lives there was later released pending further investigation.

An autopsy of Whitehouse is scheduled for tomorrow.