Nude Body Found Floating In North East River Identified

North East, MD – Maryland State Police (MSP) investigators have positively identified the deceased woman found floating in the North East River on Saturday, May 27, 2017, according to MSP Spokeswoman Elena Russo

Russo said that the woman has been identified as Patricia Walbeck Murphy, 52, of North East, Maryland. Officials did not release the cause or manner of Murphy’s death as they have yet to be determined. Russo said that authorities are awaiting results from the autopsy.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2017, troopers from the North East Barrack were dispatched to West Church Point Road in North East, to assist officers from the North East Police Department with an unknown white female, afloat in the North East River.

Police received the 9-1-1 call from a couple who discovered Murphy’s body in the water while standing on shore at the dead end of West Church Point Road.

The medical examiner on the scene determined Murphy’s death to be recent. There were no obvious indications of contusions or other marks on her body. Investigators on scene searched the area and located her clothing along the river’s edge, said Russo.

The investigation is ongoing, added Russo.

Original Story

North East – On May 27, 2017 at approximately 1:22 PM, troopers from Maryland State Police’s North East Barrack were dispatched to West Church Point Rd, in North East, Maryland to assist North East town Police Department with an unknown white female floating in the North East River.

Upon arrival, troopers made contact with North East Police Department (NEPD) and the Department of Natural Resources Police. The body was discovered floating with no clothing by NEPD. The scene was then sectioned off, and the Medical Examiner’s Office was contacted, along with MSP’s Criminal Enforcement Division (CED).

When the on call Medical Examiner arrived, the subject was recovered from the water and determined to be recently deceased. The woman displayed no indications of contusions or other marks on the body. As Criminal Enforcement troopers arrived, a check of the area was conducted and clothing was located north of the woman’s location along the North East River.

The woman is described as a white female, between the ages of mid 30’s to early 40’s.

Troopers from CED processed the scene and the woman was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Original Story

North East, MD. – At around 11:30 a.m. this morning police and rescue crews responded to the area of W Church Point Road for reports of a body in the water.

Arriving crews found the body of a woman floating near a canoe rental business, located at the end of W Church Point Road, and pulled her to shore. Rescue crews from the North East Fire Company were told that they would not be utilized and left the scene looking shaken.

North East Police, Maryland State Troopers and Maryland Natural Resources Police remained on scene as they tried to determine how the woman ended up in the water.

Officials are checking to see if they can match the body to any missing persons reports, according to reports.

Earlier in the day reports indicated that police were unsure which agency would take the lead in the case. It was later determined that the Maryland State Police would assume control of the investigation, according Candy Thomson, a Maryland Natural Resources spokeswoman.

An autopsy is set be performed at the Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Officer in Baltimore tomorrow morning.

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