Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - The search for an Amherst woman missing since Saturday night came to an end early Tuesday morning in East Amherst, with officials able to recover her body.
29-year-old Leah Bellitto was last seen by family in the Ransom Oaks neighborhood at around 9:15 p.m. that evening.
After assembling a search-and-rescue crew early Tuesday morning along North French Road in East Amherst, a citizen walking along the area near Dodge Road discovered her at approximately 9:55 a.m. Bellitto was found deceased in the water.
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.
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 and volunteers assembled Tuesday morning at the Tops Friendly Market in East Amherst, with the plans to search a wooded area along the creek close to the French Oaks neighborhood off North French Road. About 60 local volunteers joined Amherst Police and other officials to assist in the search efforts.
"It's just the right thing to do," said East Amherst resident Paul, who joined the efforts on Tuesday morning. "We're hopeful that we can find some clue that leads us to her, and she's brought home safely."
"This could be any of us," added East Amherst resident Kelly Weber with WBEN. "She's got to be right around here. I just can't imagine being right here, and not finding her."
East Amherst resident Dana Hensley says if it was her son or daughter missing, she would hope for the same kind of effort being put in to find Bellitto.
"This is our community. If we're not looking out for our own, then who is?" said Hensley in an interview with WBEN.
"We need to do what the PD tells us to do. If they need help searching, we are the community, and we've got to get out there. No matter what the outcome is, the family needs to know."
For Dylan Anderson, volunteer firefighter with the Swormville Fire Department, he will be out there as long as it takes with the help of his dog, Ruger.
"We're here to help," said Anderson with WBEN. "We're volunteers, it's kind of in our blood. It's always a good cause. We got a call from somebody yesterday, 'Hey, we're meeting here at 3:15 p.m., why don't you come along?' So we started yesterday, got a little more involved in it, and we'll get out there today and see what we can find."
Amherst Police Lt. Tom Brown was impressed with the call from the community to come together and help in their efforts to find Bellitto.
"Everybody talks about the Buffalo community, the "Bills Mafia", it's not just about the Buffalo Bills, it's the people. That's the greatest thing about Western New York, and that's what you have evident here today."
Lt. Brown expected Tuesday to be a long day, with the hope of pushing through some wooded areas near French Oaks neighborhood and finding some sort of signs of life.
"We've done this, we've trained for this, but it's the integration of the public. It's really maintaining that line, keeping our objectives, and moving forward in a coordinated effort, rather than having people sporadically search areas. We want to move through each area coordinated, clear it, and move on to the next area."
Lt. Brown adds with law enforcement officials likely out on some of the busier roads in the area throughout the day, he advises people on the roadways to be smart and slow down.
Anyone with information related to Bellitto’s case is urged to contact the Amherst Police Department at (716) 689-1311.
Amherst Police extends its gratitude to the members of the public who have already assisted, as well as law enforcement and emergency service partners for their support in this investigation.
The Bellitto family is asking for privacy, and there is no further information available, at this time.