New Milford Woman Found In River With Gunshot Wound to Head

The body of a 37-year old New Milford woman was found Tuesday morning with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in the Hackensack River across from the Dorchester Apartment Complex on Columbia Street, Chief of Police Frank Papapietro said. 

Papapietro said that the weapon found at the scene had been reported stolen out of Dumont. Also found near the body was the victim's purse containing her I.D.  

Papapietro said that the woman has been identified, but her name is being withheld until family members have been notified. Papapietro also said that officials are not ready to determine the death a suicide and called the investigation "on-going."

No note was found near the victim's body, but Papapietro said that police will be searching her car and apartment for more evidence. 

According to Papapietro, the family of the woman reported her missing to the late Monday evening. New Milford Police located the victim's car in the parking lot of Shop Rite on River Road. With the assistance of the Bergen County Canine Unit, police performed an extensive search of the area finding the body at approximately 8am Tuesday morning.

"Her body was discovered on the banks of the Hackensack River," Papapietro said. "With the rising tide she was submerged."

Papapietro told Patch that boats from the New Milford and River Edge Fire Departments were dispatched, but the body was recovered by divers from the Bergen County Dive Unit. The Sheriff's Department's Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit was also at the scene collecting evidence. 

Patch will provide updates regarding this on-going investigation as more information is released.