Body Believed To Be Missing Woman Found In Melting Snow

INDEPENDENCE TWP. (WWJ/AP) - Officials say a body believed to be that of a missing metro Detroit woman has been found in melting snow.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Department said the frozen body was found face-down Tuesday night in Independence Township, not far from the apartment where 67-year-old Sharyn McDonnel was last seen Jan. 31.

Investigators say clothing found on the body matched that of the missing woman. An autopsy is planned to confirm the identity of the body.

McDonnell, who suffered from dementia, apparently wandered off from Chalet Villa Apartments and was last seen by her boyfriend around 6 o'clock that night. She was reported missing the following day as the Detroit area saw a severe snowstorm that dumped more than a foot of snow in many areas. Clarkston received 9.5 inches of snow that day.

The area surrounding the apartment had been searched several times after McDonnell's disappearance.

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