Police: Missing Valley Cottage Hiker Fell From Cliff Near Rockland Lake Park

Colleen Murphy—the missing Valley Cottage hiker who Rockland, Westchester and State authorities searched for all day Tuesday—died when she likely fell from a cliff near Rockland Lake State Park, police said.

Search and rescue units found the bodies of 47-year-old Murphy and her dog at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday night at the base of a 400 foot cliff, said. The bulk of the search had been called off for the day, but a smaller group of officers continued the manhunt into the dark hours.

Murphy was discovered to be missing at around 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Clarkstown Police said. Her Florida-based parents and friends had not heard from her since the weekend; authorities then carried out a well-being check at Murphy's Mountainview Condos residence and found nobody home.

A friend told police Murphy had mentioned on Sunday she was going hiking at either Rockland Lake or Hook Mountain.

"We then commenced the search," said Nicholas Lafasciano, a sergeant with the Clarkstown Police Department. "We found [Murphy's] car at Rockland Lake."

The car was found parked near the Knickerbocker Engine Company Fire House on Landing Road in Congers.

Search and rescue teams set up base in one of Rockland Lake's parking areas, with police cruisers and helicopters coming and going, search teams combing the woods and a bloodhound seeking clues. The parking area is surrounded by several snow-covered, icy hills.