Missing Woman, 29, Found Dead in Water After Vanishing in Freezing Weather Conditions: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Leah Bellitto.Photo:Amherst Police Department

Amherst Police Department

A 29-year-old woman has been found dead in New York nearly four days after she was reported missing in freezing weather conditions, police have confirmed.

“The Amherst Police Department is investigating the discovery of Leah Bellitto, who was reported missing on February 8, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m,” police wrote in the post, adding that, “A citizen walking along the area discovered her at approximately 9:55 a.m.”

Leah Bellitto.Amherst Police Department

“At the time of her discovery, members of the Amherst Police Emergency Response Team, along with volunteer search groups, were in the vicinity conducting search efforts,” officers added in the release.

“The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation. At this time, there are no signs of foul play and there is no apparent danger to the public,” police confirmed, urging anybody with information to come forward.

“We extend our gratitude to the members of the public who have already assisted, as well as our law enforcement and emergency service partners for their support in this investigation,” the post stated.

“The family of Ms. Bellitto is asking for privacy,” police concluded, adding that “no further information” is “available at this time.”

PerAccuWeather, the weather in East Amherst, where Bellitto was discovered, reached a low of -7 degrees on the night she was reported missing, and reached a low of -10 degrees on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

A photo of an Amherst Police Department car.Amherst Police Department

The update comes after police issued missing person appeals for Bellitto on social media, confirming she was on foot and “may be wearing a black long sleeve shirt and black pajama pants and a small blue flower-pattern backpack,” per a Feb. 9X post.

Nardin Academy in Buffalo, N.Y. was among those paying tribute, sharing a photo of Bellitto onFacebook, writing, “We are saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our alumna Leah Bellitto, a member of the Class of 2015. The entire Nardin community prays for and offers its heartfelt condolences to the Bellitto Family, Leah’s friends, and her loved ones. Our thoughts are with them all.”

Dodge Road resident, Trisha Tower, told local ABC-affiliated stationWKBW, “It’s just devastating.”

“It’s been so cold and however it happened, maybe going for a walk and just getting disoriented and just been freezing out here and it’s just incredibly sad,” Tower added, per the outlet.

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WKBW reported around 50 people had shown up in the area to volunteer amid the search for Bellitto on Tuesday morning.

Alesha Conte, who was one of the many who turned up to help, told the station, “Me and my husband and our kids… we live in Amherst and you know it hits you and it hits home when you when you see this happening in your community."

“And everybody needs help there can’t be enough help… with something like this,” Conte added, per the outlet.

Per a previousFacebookpost from WNY Missing & Unidentified Persons Network, it was reported that Bellitto’s personal belongings, as well as footprints, had been discovered near the creek before she was found.

source: people.com