A large-scale search in the Connecticut Hill State Forest ended tragically Thursday morning when crews found a missing person dead in the woods.
The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office says the person was located around 11:30 a.m. in Tompkins County — about two and a half hours after the search began.
The operation started just after 9:00 a.m. on October 16, after reports of a missing person near Vanloon Road in the forest.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and New York State Department of Corrections. Local fire departments from Watkins Glen, Odessa, Hector, and others also joined the effort, along with Amigo Search and Rescue and the Schuyler County Emergency Management Office.
Officials confirmed the case has now been turned over to the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.
The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to all who assisted in the search — including Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Corp, which provided food for search teams.
No additional details about the identity of the person or the circumstances of the death were released.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].