Missing woman found after search by land, air and water

Jun 16, 2022

A 61-year-old missing woman came home of her own accord after several hours of exhaustive searching by first responders from across south-east Massachusetts.

The search centered around Marks Cove, and included searches by land, by air — courtesy State Police Helicopter — and by water. Dive teams and canines joined in.

At 6 p.m., as the search wrapped up, divers sipped hot coffee to warm up and the fleet of emergency vehicles began to pull away from the curbs of Cromesett Road and Marks Cove Road, where they’d parked. 

Per Wareham Police Chief Walter Correia, Lt. John Gerard and Wareham Fire Chief John Kelley, first responders were first alerted to possible trouble just before noon when someone called police to request a wellness check on the woman.

Police couldn’t find her, although her car was parked in the driveway. Neighbors said it would be unusual for her to leave on foot, and when they couldn’t find her in the immediate area, they sounded the alarm.

The search began in earnest at about 1:30 p.m. 

By about 6, a friend had managed to contact the woman, who made her way home. She was brought to the hospital to be evaluated as a precaution.

“It’s a happy ending,” said Gerard.

Correia praised the cooperation amongst the first responders who flocked to the scene from more than a dozen towns.

Kelley pointed out that together, the towns’ resources far surpass that of any individual community.  

“Makes everybody’s job a lot easier,” remarked Correia.

The first responders noted that the search for the woman was unrelated to the response earlier Thursday after a kayak was found floating unattended.