Authorities say they have found the body of a missing northern New York woman who disappeared earlier this week after leaving her home. Members of state police and the forest rangers said Friday search crews found the body of 78-year-old Rita Wilson in a wooded area roughly a mile from her home in Redford. No cause of death has been announced by authorities. In an initial report, police said Wilson, who was diagnosed with dementia, likely left her home on Elm Street at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities said multiple sightings were reported in the following days, including at least one determined to be credible — an image of Wilson captured on a trail camera. The photo was timestamped approximately two hours after she reportedly left her home, showing her walking roughly one mile north of Redford. Crews said that information, received Thursday, was key in tightening their search space. “Today was our really big push, and having that little piece of information gave us all that little bit of energy,” said Lt. Brian Dubay, with the state forest rangers. More than 130 people each day became involved in the days-long search efforts for Wilson, which utilized rafts and helicopters to search both sides of the nearby Saranac River. “That’s what this community does, it makes me so proud to be from this community, said Renee Drollette, a volunteer in the search efforts. “One of our own needed assistance and everybody showed up for her — that’s what they do around here.” Volunteers described Wilson as a “staple” of the community, sharing stories of her warmth and kindness.
Authorities say they have found the body of a missing northern New York woman who disappeared earlier this week after leaving her home.
Members of state police and the forest rangers said Friday search crews found the body of 78-year-old Rita Wilson in a wooded area roughly a mile from her home in Redford. No cause of death has been announced by authorities.
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In an initial report, police said Wilson, who was diagnosed with dementia, likely left her home on Elm Street at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities said multiple sightings were reported in the following days, including at least one determined to be credible — an image of Wilson captured on a trail camera.
The photo was timestamped approximately two hours after she reportedly left her home, showing her walking roughly one mile north of Redford. Crews said that information, received Thursday, was key in tightening their search space.
“Today [Friday] was our really big push, and having that little piece of information gave us all that little bit of energy,” said Lt. Brian Dubay, with the state forest rangers.
More than 130 people each day became involved in the days-long search efforts for Wilson, which utilized rafts and helicopters to search both sides of the nearby Saranac River.
“That’s what this community does, it makes me so proud to be from this community, said Renee Drollette, a volunteer in the search efforts. “One of our own needed assistance and everybody showed up for her — that’s what they do around here.”
Volunteers described Wilson as a “staple” of the community, sharing stories of her warmth and kindness.
