Missing Danvers Woman Found Dead In Beverly Pond On Christmas Day

BEVERLY, MA — A missing Danvers woman who was feared to be "possibly endangered" when she disappeared near Wenham Lake in Beverly on Tuesday was found dead on Christmas Day, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office.

Essex County DA Paul Tucker and Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur said Owen Kasozi, 30, of Danvers is believed to have fallen into the freezing water while walking her dog in the J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve. The dog was found without its owner in Topsfield on Tuesday night.

Police said Kasozi was last seen entering the preserve off Cabot Street and Route 97 in Beverly at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday and a search began when she did not return from the popular dog-walking location. Crews from Beverly police, Beverly fire, the Massachusetts State Police Airwing unit, Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and State Police detectives assigned to the Essex DA's Office were involved in the search spanning two days.

The Essex DA's Office said no foul play is suspected at this time, however the official cause of death will be determined by an investigation to be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

"On behalf of the Beverly Police Department, I would like to pass along our sincere condolences to the family of Owen Kasozi," LeLacheur said. "I would also like to thank all the first responders for being able to give the family some degree of closure in the wake of this difficult search process."

"This is not the search outcome that anyone was hoping for," Tucker said. "We appreciate the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who worked diligently over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to locate Owen Kasozi.

"Our thoughts are with her family as they begin to cope with this painful loss."