BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
A tragic discovery was made on Christmas Day when the body of a missing woman was recovered from Wenham Lake in Beverly, Massachusetts, officials announced Wednesday.
Owen Kasozi, 30, of Danvers, was last seen entering the J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve around 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve while walking her dog.
When she failed to return home, emergency crews launched a search that included the Massachusetts State Police Airwing Unit.
Later that night, Kasozi’s dog was found wandering alone in Topsfield, but there was no sign of its owner. Authorities believe Kasozi fell into the freezing waters of Wenham Lake and was unable to pull herself out.
No foul play is suspected, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and Beverly Police Department. The exact cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
“This is not the search outcome that anyone was hoping for,” said Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker.
“We appreciate the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who worked diligently over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to locate Owen Kasozi. Our thoughts are with her family as they begin to cope with this painful loss.”
Beverly Police Chief John G. LeLacheur also expressed his condolences to Kasozi’s family, saying, “On behalf of the Beverly Police Department, I would like to pass along our sincere condolences to the family of Owen Kasozi.
I would also like to thank all the first responders for being able to give the family some degree of closure in the wake of this difficult search process.”
The tragedy has left the local community mourning the loss of the young Danvers resident as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of her untimely death.
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