Woman Who Vanished from Car Crash Found Dead a Quarter of a Mile Away

A woman who vanished from the scene of a car crash in Indiana has been found dead over a quarter of a mile from the incident.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Wayne County Indiana Sheriff’s Office said in a release that the body of 59-year-old Lorena Scott was found earlier that morning in a creek to the east of where she crashed her vehicle on New Paris Pike. 

Officers had been looking for Scott after her vehicle — which had been involved in a single-vehicle crash — was found unoccupied on Nov. 30.

“Despite an initial area search involving multiple officers and a drone team, Mrs. Scott was not located in the area of the crash site,” authorities stated. 

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“An extensive investigation into Mrs. Scott’s disappearance was conducted,” they continued. “This investigation included collaboration with the New Paris Police Department, interviewing family member, reviewing for security camera footage, financial records, as well as significant media coverage and community support.”

Authorities then decided to “expand and intensify” their search after all leads were exhausted.

On Dec. 3, police conducted their search again with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources drone team, as well as the Richmond Fire Department drone team.  Scott was later found over a quarter of a mile away. 

“Foul play is not suspected, and the cause of death remains under investigation,” the authorities posted on Facebook.

“The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office conducted a thorough investigation and coordinated with multiple agencies to pursue every possible lead,” the release added.

“We are deeply grateful to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Richmond Fire Department, New Paris Police Department and Wayne County Coroner’s Office for their partnership and assistance in this case.”

Authorities also expressed their condolences to Scott’s family, asking the community to respect the privacy of loved ones.