05-13-2011, 04:50 PM
Authorities with the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office have confirmed that the body pulled out of Sherman's Pond is that is Sarah Townsend, the 18-year-old Allentown High School senior who's been missing since Monday.
Sarah Townsend, 18, of Florence and a senior at Allentown High School, was found dead today in a pond near where her car was discovered abandoned on Monday.
Townsend's car was found abandoned about 150 yards from the pond in Burlington Township's Green Acres Park Monday morning.
Four tracking dogs searching the park for Townsend picked up on a scent today at 1:15 p.m. and led investigators to the side of the pond opposite the parking lot where Townsend's car was found, Lt. Bruce Painter with the Burlington Township Police Department said.
Investigators found Townsend's body submerged, though it was not weighted down, Painter said.
Police on Thursday said they believed Townsend, of Florence, may have been considering harming herself prior to her disappearance, but no information has yet been made available today about the cause of death.
Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
Townsend was reported missing by her boyfriend, Matt Welsh, at about 10 a.m. Monday morning and he found the car in the Burlington Township Park. Police have repeatedly said Welsh was not a suspect in Townsend's disappearance.
Townsend's disappearance had resulted in a massive search in the Green Acres Park over the last week. Divers had previously checked the pond, but did not locate anything.
Townsend's parents held candlelight vigils this week at the park and pleaded for their daughter's safe return. Thousands of people joined Facebook pages dedicated to locating Townsend.
Sarah Townsend, 18, of Florence and a senior at Allentown High School, was found dead today in a pond near where her car was discovered abandoned on Monday.
Townsend's car was found abandoned about 150 yards from the pond in Burlington Township's Green Acres Park Monday morning.
Four tracking dogs searching the park for Townsend picked up on a scent today at 1:15 p.m. and led investigators to the side of the pond opposite the parking lot where Townsend's car was found, Lt. Bruce Painter with the Burlington Township Police Department said.
Investigators found Townsend's body submerged, though it was not weighted down, Painter said.
Police on Thursday said they believed Townsend, of Florence, may have been considering harming herself prior to her disappearance, but no information has yet been made available today about the cause of death.
Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
Townsend was reported missing by her boyfriend, Matt Welsh, at about 10 a.m. Monday morning and he found the car in the Burlington Township Park. Police have repeatedly said Welsh was not a suspect in Townsend's disappearance.
Townsend's disappearance had resulted in a massive search in the Green Acres Park over the last week. Divers had previously checked the pond, but did not locate anything.
Townsend's parents held candlelight vigils this week at the park and pleaded for their daughter's safe return. Thousands of people joined Facebook pages dedicated to locating Townsend.