Police this evening announced that the woman whose body was found in Newark on Friday has been identified as a woman reported missing out of Kearny.
According to authorities, on Feb. 15th, at 12:31 am, Rosa A. Lescano’s adult daughter reported to police that her 66-year-old mother had been missing from her home since 10 am the prior day.
Officials say her daughter also reported that Ms. Lescano does not drive and had left her cellular phone at home. Hours later, detectives learned that another family member had found a hand-written suicide note in the home.
An investigation was immediately opened upon the filing of the initial report. Inquiries were made with surrounding police departments and hospitals. Patrol officers were sent to canvas places frequented by Ms. Lescano. A digital bulletin was forwarded to area police departments containing a photo of Ms. Lescano and information pertinent to the investigation.
According to authorities, Ms. Lescano was entered as a missing person in the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, a database which is accessible by law enforcement agencies nationwide. A police department social media post was made to enlist the public in generating tips and leads. These steps turned up no leads.
Detectives requested the assistance of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. A Sheriff’s bloodhound tracking dog led the detectives to the Passaic River in Kearny. Detectives then began searching the Passaic River by boat.
Police say at approximately 11:19 a.m. on Feb. 15th, detectives located a deceased adult female in the river near the Clay Street Bridge between East Newark and Newark. The woman’s body was recovered with the assistance of the Newark Police Emergency Service Unit and a death pronouncement was made by paramedics from MONOC EMS.
Earlier this evening, the police department received notification from the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office that the woman recovered from the river on Feb. 15th was positively identified as missing person Rosa Lescano.
As in all cases of this nature, the cause and manner of death are pending a full report by the medical examiner. Preliminarily, no foul play is suspected.
The police department sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Lescano.
”We regret that we were unable to provide this update sooner; however we were compelled to await the official identification made by the medical examiner” police said.