(Updated: 7:08 p.m.) The elderly Riverside woman missing since Thursday afternoon has been found dead in a N.Y. state conservation area near the mobile home park where she lived.
Jean Taber’s body was found at about 3:40 this afternoon, Trooper Tammy Mickoliger said. Her dog was found at her side, she said. The dog, a Cocker Spaniel named Freckles, is believed to be about 10 years old and was taken to a veterinarian for examination, the trooper said.
A helicopter spotted Taber’s dog inside the David A. Sarnoff Preserve and guided state police K9 units on the ground to her location. Police in the helicopter saw the dog moving below. She was found off a paved trail in the preserve, Mickoliger said.
Taber, who suffered from dementia, appears to have died of natural causes, with exposure to the elements a factor, Mickoliger said.
Her dog was dehydrated and hungry and had a lot of ticks on him, said Trooper Stephen Campo, one of four K9 officers who were guided by helicopter to the spot where they found Taber and her dog.
“He was in sort of a mild state of shock,” Campo said. The trooper took Freckles to the emergency veterinary clinic in Riverhead for evaluation and treatment.
“He should be just fine,” Campo said.
Taber was last seen walking her dog southbound on County Road 104 Thursday afternoon. State Police said they received a report of the missing person on Friday. See prior story.
“At daylight on April 5th, a full complement of state police assets were deployed to assist in the search including: canine units, aviation assets, members of the bureau of criminal investigation as well as specialized blood hound units from Troop K in Poughkeepsie,” state police said in a press release. To complement NYSP assets, DEC Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police, Suffolk County Sheriffs, Suffolk County PD Aviation, Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services as well as numerous volunteers, volunteer fire services and EMS were brought in to assist in the search.”
The search continued all day today.
“The family would like to thank all of the agencies and volunteers for their efforts and request that all be mindful of their privacy during their time of mourning,” police said.
Correction: A previously published version of this story stated the time of the discovery as 4:45 p.m., as per information provided by police.
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