Body of Deceased Woman Found Near Derry Construction Site Identified: Update

DERRY, NH — The Derry Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in identifying a woman whose body was discovered this afternoon near a construction site on Birch Street.

At approximately 1:25 p.m. on Monday, Derry police received a report of a possible deceased person behind a business located at 71 Birch St. Responding officers located the body of an unidentified white female at the base of an embankment, resting on the edge of a nearby retention pond. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators reviewed video footage from several days prior that captured the woman walking alone into the secluded area. The footage reportedly shows the woman appearing to be ill or impaired as she walked past the retention pond. She is then seen stumbling and falling, landing near the pond, where she subsequently passed away.

While the investigation is ongoing, authorities stated there is no indication of foul play at this time.

Police noted that the woman's location was not easily visible from the nearby business or driveway. Her body was discovered by workers who were landscaping the area today.

UPDATE: Derry Police Captain Vern Thomas confirmed the woman was 63-year-old Christine Field. She last lived at Franklin Village Apartments. The investigation and autopsy had no indications of foul play.

On Sunday, two duck hunters who were on the Merrimack River in canoes discovered a body near the river embankment in Merrimack near Wright Ave.

Merrimack Fire Rescue, Merrimack Police, NHSP Marine Patrol, and the medical examiner's office responded to the scene.

The body that sources have said was a man appeared to have been there for several months. The body was at the bottom of a steep embankment and was recovered by firefighters in a boat.

The body was transported to the office of the New Hampshire Medical Examiner, where an autopsy will be performed. NH State Police Marine Patrol will work with NH State Police Major Crime to positively identify the identity.