ROCHESTER (WWJ) - It was a heartbreaking end to a desperate search for an elderly Rochester woman who disappeared nearly two weeks ago after her body was found by authorities in the Thumb area.
According to the Rochester Police Department, Mary Agnes Sullivan, 79, was discovered deceased in a ditch near the dead end of Luder Road in Tuscola County just before 9 p.m. on Monday, July 10.
Authorities in Rochester announced the grim discovery a little after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Sullivan was reported missing from the City of Rochester last month.
She was last seen in Huron County/Bad Axe area on June 29th when a concerned motorist contacted authorities around 6 p.m. According to police, Sullivan was the subject of a welfare check/reckless driving incident while traveling in her gray 2019 Honda HRV with the license plate # DYU-4806.
But police went to check the area for the vehicle, Sullivan was nowhere to be found.
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On Monday evening, Sullivan's Honda was spotted.
"We received word that Tuscola County Sherriff's Office received a call about a car in the ditch in Almer Township north of Caro," the Rochester Police Department said. "Their investigation determined that the vehicle belonged to Mary Sullivan. A body was found deceased at the scene. It is believed that this person is Mary Sullivan, our missing person."
According to investigators, there are no signs of foul play. No damage was found on the vehicle and there was no one else observed at the scene when authorities arrived.
Police said a formal identification will be made following an autopsy by the county medical examiner. The family, who had offered a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the location of Sullivan, was notified, police added.
"The Rochester Police Department extends our deepest sympathy to the Sullivan family," authorities said. "The Sullivan family asked us to extend their thanks to all who have expressed their concern and for all the efforts made to locate Mary."