Colonie police say a body pulled from the Hudson River has been identified as a missing Colonie woman. Barry Wygel has the latest on the investigation.
WATERFORD, N.Y. -- A search for a missing Colonie woman has a sad ending.
The Colonie Police Department confirmed Tuesday afternoon that, following an autopsy, a body found in the Hudson River near Peebles Island was identified as 59-year-old Patrice Zimmerman. The autopsy, performed at Albany Medical Center, determined the cause of death to be "asphyxia due to drowning."
Toxicology results are still pending, but a laceration found on Zimmerman's face is believed to be responsible for blood found in Zimmerman's house Monday morning.
"The investigation is still open," the press release read, "but no new information indicates any foul play."
Zimmerman's friends describe her as a happy, loving person.
"She was the most thoughtful person. Considerate, happy, organized, tremendous cook," Winn said.
Police were first alerted to her disappearance yesterday morning when she missed a phone date she had scheduled with her husband. At the home in Colonie police found evidence of an injury.
"We are still acting under the impression that she fell in the residence. How she ends up here -- we don't know," Winn said.
Police ended their search at a place where Patrice and her family would go kayaking. It's still not clear where she entered the water, or at what time, but police do know Patrice's car arrived in Waterford just before 5 a.m. Monday morning.
"There is some surveillance video from Peebles Island, but it's not the best quality because of the darkness," said Winn.
Zimmerman's car also was found not to have any blood.