Missing Westport Woman’s Body Found

Westport Police have announced that a missing Westport woman's body has been found.

On June 28, 2017 at approximately 2:40 a.m., Westport Police Sergeant Gary Cambra came across a vehicle on Rte 88 southbound at the intersection of Cherry Webb Lane. The unoccupied vehicle’s engine was still running, and the hazard lights were activated. Personal belongings were inside the car as well.

Other Westport officers were called to the area, along with a Dartmouth Police K9. Footwear was located on the nearby Fontaine Bridge which the K9 also tracked toward. Family members told police they had last seen the 58-year old female at approximately 10PM, when she left her residence.

Westport Police requested resources from several different agencies which included: the Westport Fire Department, the Westport Harbor Master’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Massachusetts State Police Airwing helicopter, the Southeastern MA Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) Dive Team as well as the Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, along with a SEMLEC Mobile Command Post.

The Harbor Master had deployed three vessels, the USCG deployed a helicopter and a 29FT vessel, the SEMLEC Dive Team deployed two vessels along with underwater divers and boat operators, and the SAR sent numerous ground personnel along with All Terrain Vehicles, which supplemented Westport Police Rough Terrain Vehicles. Mass State Police utilized a helicopter during the search.

Westport Police directed ground resources to search the shoreline and dock areas along Cherry Webb Lane, as well as Cherry Webb Beach, past Horseneck State Beach toward Gooseberry Island. SEMLEC also utilized a civilian drone in some difficult shore terrain areas.

At approximately 12:05 p.m., the Westport Harbor Master, along with Westport Police Officer Dave Simcoe in another boat located the woman's body approximately a half-mile northeast of where the footwear was found on the Fontaine Bridge.

Westport Police have turned the body over to the state's Chief Medical Examiner and State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.