Beloved Morristown Teacher's Body Found After Extensive, Months-Long Search

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Nearly six months after she went missing, the body of beloved Morristown teacher, Lara Emanuele, has been found, Morris County officials announced Thursday.

Police KJ-9 units from the Ramapo Search and Rescue Organization found human remains were found in a wooded area off of Howard Boulevard and Route 80 in Roxbury Township on Sunday, the Morristown Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

The group had been searching for her every Sunday since she was reported missing after having not returned home from work on June 7, the office said, adding that the remains were later identified by the medical examiner’s office as those belonging to Emanuele.

Emanuele, 46, taught third grade at Alexander Hamilton Elementary School in Morristown.

"At this time, there is nothing to indicate a suspicious cause of death, and the Medical Examiner’s Office has listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined," the statement said.

Prosecutor Robert Carroll said his office extends its condolences to Emanuele’s family for their loss, adding that her disappearance generated an outpouring of support and concern for her and offers of assistance."

"Ms. Emanuele was a special person to her students, co-workers, family, and the community," he said. "I realize her disappearance has also generated rumors on social media that foul play was involved."

Carroll discounted the theories, saying that "a thorough investigation" is continuing into Emanuele's death though evidence points to her "having taken her own life."

"This was a determination that could not have been made prior to the recovery of her body," he said.

Investigators found a handwritten note was discovered in her vehicle, indicating she did not want to be found, and surveillance footage from Walmart shows her shopping alone prior to her disappearance, and more footage shows her getting out of her vehicle in the parking lot alone and then leaving of her own free will, Carroll said.

The Prosecutor's Office does not "ordinarily share specific details" about suicide investigations, he said, adding that "there has been a great deal of inquiry related to Emanuele’s disappearance."

Some facts are being shared in the interest of transparency, according to Carroll.

"While the outcome of the search is disappointing, the officers and volunteers who worked tirelessly to find Emanuele have earned our gratitude," he said. "Your efforts will help bring closure to this family and this community.”

Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone offered the department's "deepest sympathy" to Emanuele's family, friends, and students.

"We hope that finding her will provide some sense of relief and help loved ones begin the healing process," he said. "It's important to acknowledge the efforts of the Ramapo Search and
Rescue Group. Their team promised to continue to search the area until the case was closed and that's exactly what they did."

"Their hard work and dedication played a crucial role in this investigation, and I would like to
personally thank them," he said.

Morris County Sheriff James Gannon credited the police department and the Prosecutor’s Office's Missing Persons Unit for never giving up on the investigation.

"I am grateful for the members of my office who contributed to the resolution of this case," he said. "We express our sincere condolences to Lara’s family and commend all of the agencies who never gave up on her, and hope the discovery of her whereabouts is of some comfort to her family and those who loved her.”

RELATED STORIES:

• Search For Missing Morris Co. Teacher Continues
• Search For Missing North Jersey Teacher Drags On: What We Know
• New Footage Shows Missing Morris Co. Teacher Exiting Car

Emanuele’s body was found after "an extensive, coordinated search operation" by officers, search dogs, and technical help from members of the Roxbury police, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit, Pennsylvania Search and Rescue, the Conservation Police, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit, and the Major Crimes Unit.

Jersey Search and Rescue, comprising of law enforcement and trained civilians, was also used, as well as K-9 Units from Jersey state police, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office.

Other searches coordinated by Adone were conducted by Ramapo Search and Rescue.

The search were conducted by several law enforcement agencies, and centered on the Berkshire Valley State Wildlife Management Area because Emanuele’s vehicle was found in the nearby parking lot of a hotel on Howard Boulevard.

Chief of Detectives Robert McNally highlighted how the county is not "untouched by the national mental health crisis," saying that there have been 31 suicides in 2023.

"It is important to remember, in times of emotional distress and mental health crises, there are resources that can help," he said.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by calling 1-800-273-8255, or by texting 988.

Vianella Burns contributed additional reporting to this story.