Cops treat woman's death as suspicious

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - A missing Niagara Falls woman has been found dead. A search party organized by her family discovered the body late Wednesday morning.

At first Niagara Falls police didn't suspect foul play but Wednesday morning, detectives called 67-year-old Judith Burr's death suspicious.

Around 9 a.m. hundreds of family, friends, police, firefighters and volunteers got ready to search the woods near the corner of 102 and Colvin in the Lasalle Section of Niagara Falls. ATVs, dogs and horses were also on the scene to help.

Search teams walked through thick brush in the woods, five minutes later people started screaming. The search was immediately called off and police confirmed that Burr's lifeless body was found fully clothed on the ground. Authorities say her glasses and shoes were still on and there was no sign of any injuries.

The discovery was made only about six blocks from where police discovered her abandoned car Friday evening, near a senior center. It was locked, with her purse still inside. Her family was understandably upset afterwards and didn't want to go on camera. But before the search, loved ones described Burr as a happy mother, wife and grandmother.

One family member called her a “perfectly healthy, perfectly happy woman.”

“This is kind of bizarre, we don't have a clue whats going on,” said another loved one.

One loved one said, “it’s horrifying, it’s horrifying.”

Family friend Danielle Depadre said, “As far as we know, nobody knows anything. Her car was observed pulling in across the street. Nobody's seen anybody get in, nobody's seen anybody get out, and that’s all they have to go on.”

Police say they had been searching by air and on land since she was reported missing. Burr was last seen by her husband, Bud, Friday afternoon when they were watching TV together.