THOMPSON, Ohio — Days after 76-year-old Susan Taylor went missing from her Thompson home on March 17, the Geauga County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that officials had found her body in a wooded area.
The discovery of her body came amid a morning search that featured community members volunteering. "The volunteers searched through thick wooded areas that were extremely wet with rugged terrain," said Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand in a Facebook post. "It also exposed the best and most supportive aspects of our community. It was incredible to see the outpouring support."
Volunteers gathered at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning for the search.
"When someone needs your help, you've got to help, that's all there is to it," said Rob Michener, search volunteer from Huntsburg Township.
"It breaks my heart, its like when I see it I think of my mom and my dad and my husband, if it was one of my family members I would want someone searching for them," added Carol Schneider, search volunteer from Madison Township.
Sheriff's deputies previously said Taylor was at her property on Friday morning and had texted her son to let him know she would be leaving soon.
“He typically goes out there on the weekends, so when he got there, she wasn’t there, and he didn’t expect her to be there. But her car was there, her cell phone was there, and her purse was there, and he couldn’t find her anywhere,” Hildenbrand told 3News' Isabel Lawrence.
The Geauga County Detective Bureau is seeking video footage from residents showing the roadway at the following locations from March 17 or earlier.
- Sidley Road between Burrows Road and Stocking Road
- Rock Creek Road between Rt 528 and Rt 534
- Thompson Road between Rt 528 and Rt 534
- All of Stocking Road
- All of Mosely Road
- Phillips Road west of Rt 534
- Burrows Road between Plank Road and Callahan Road
- Callahan Road west of Rt 534
If you have video footage from any one of these areas from March 17 or earlier, please contact the Geauga County Detective Bureau at 440-286-1234.
Since Friday, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Thompson Police and Fire Departments, BCI’s Crime Scene Unit, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and other departments had been searching for Taylor.
Hildenbrand had previously said there were no signs that anyone had slipped or fallen into the lake, adding that they were “checking everything” and “not ruling anything out.”
Previously, 3News asked the sheriff if any foul play was suspected, to which he replied, “not at this point.” 3News also asked the sheriff about the possibility of an animal attack. The sheriff said there is “no evidence that an animal attacked her,” but said they have not ruled anything out.
“We will continue to investigate it until we find out what happened there,” Hildenbrand said.
3News also spoke to Taylor’s son via phone Monday, and he shared that law enforcement has taken his truck.