Missing woman's body found in search

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Police are treating the death of Judith Burr as suspicious now that her body was discovered in the LaSalle neighborhood of Niagara Falls.

The 67-year-old's body was discovered during a community-wide search of the woods Wednesday morning. The search party of more than 200 people, including family, friends, neighbors, police paramedics and firefighters gathered on 102nd Street and Colvin Boulevard to begin searching the woods for Burr, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, who
disappeared Friday afternoon.

Niagara Falls Det. Mark Jaroszewski said, "Just coming out here you guys are doing great. It's a good Samaritan thing."

Her family was left without a clue to Burr's whereabouts.

Burr's cousin, Sue Ellen Elvers said, "Perfectly healthy, perfectly happy woman."

Niagara Falls Police had conducted a search in the area around the senior center near her home. Her car was found parked there Friday afternoon.

"There's been searches continually throughout the weekend, and the original night there were helicopter searches and also the K-9 search," recalled resident Theresa Cusatis.

But the woods, five or six blocks from her home, had not been searched until Wednesday. And just minutes into the search, her body was found.

"They just screamed: "Stop!" And told us to turn around and head back to the road," said Elvers.

News 4 was told Burr was found still wearing her glasses and her shoes.

Niagara Falls Police Lt. Michael Trane said, "She was completely clothed and there's no outward signs of anything unusual other than her being deceased back there."

Police are still treating the death as suspicious.

"I don't believe she could have gotten in there by herself. I don't believe it. It wasn't like her. She hated the cold and didn't walk," said cousin Tammy Cote.

Another cousin, Kevin Grover, added, "She's a great person. She would never, ever, ever have any enemies, never."

"We're going to miss her a whole lot. She was a phenomenal mother, a phenomenal grandmother, just an incredible person," said cousin Melissa Fuller.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday at the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office.