Missing Long Island woman found dead in Norwalk River. Police confirm identity. Autopsy pending. Investigation led by Norwalk Police Department. Read More Breaking News
BREAKING NEWS [UPDATE]: Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025, 9 P.M. — Wilton Police received confirmation this evening that the Norwalk Police Department has located the body of a missing Long Island woman who had last been sighted in Wilton.
According to a press release from the Norwalk Police Department, members of the Norwalk Police and Fire Departments made the discovery as they were continuing a search that had started Thursday afternoon in Wilton on Schenck’s Island and along the riverbanks of the Norwalk River in Wilton Center.
Norwalk police officers were utilizing a drone to search southbound along the riverbed of the Norwalk River in addition to searching on foot along the river banks, when a body was located in the Norwalk River near the area of Main Ave. and Grist Mill Rd. in Norwalk. Members of the Norwalk Police Department SCUBA Team and Norwalk Fire Department recovered the body from the swiftly moving water.
Wilton Deputy Police Chief Rob Cipolla confirmed to GOOD Morning Wilton that officials had matched the identity of the person pulled from the river to that of the missing person. Confirmation had been withheld pending notification of next of kin.
At present, Cipolla said the cause of death could not be confirmed until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner could conduct an autopsy. Norwalk officials have not released any definitive details.
Wilton Emergency Management had mobilized a search by law enforcement agencies on Thursday afternoon following a report by a dog walker of having seen a woman at Schenck’s Island on Wednesday, Mar. 5 around noon, and then discovering personal items belonging to the woman at the same location 24 hours later.
The Norwalk Police press release noted that items, including clothing, were found near the bank of the river.
Wilton Police were able to link the personal belongings to a New York woman who had been reported missing on Tuesday, Mar. 4.
Credit: Wilton Police Department / Facebook
Shortly after noon on Thursday, Wilton Police posted on social media asking for residents’ help in locating a 35-year-old woman from West Islip, NY, who had last been seen in Wilton on Wednesday. Cipolla said that, at the time, officials had reason to be “concerned with her well being and mental state.”
The Norwalk Police Department Detective Bureau is now leading the investigation of the incident. Any person with information is asked to call the Norwalk Police Detective Bureau at 203.854.3011 or email Norwalk Det. Lindsey Taylor.
Cipolla said Wilton law enforcement will continue working jointly with Norwalk police as the investigation continues.
Cipolla said officials did not have any information about the woman’s connection to Wilton or why she was in the area. He did ask that if anyone had seen her at any point this week to contact Wilton Police to assist them in establishing timeframes and assisting the investigation.
Anyone with additional information can contact the Wilton Police Department at 203.834.6260.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. Help is also available online. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741. If it’s an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
