Nearly five months after she was last seen, authorities in Shelbyville, Tennessee, have confirmed the death of 84-year-old Sara Padgett after her vehicle was discovered submerged underwater with a body inside.
Padgett was last seen by friends on April 4 and reported missing on April 10. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued a Silver Alert on April 11, stating she was last spotted in Shelbyville on April 2, driving a blue Nissan Sentra.
On Wednesday, August 27, the Shelbyville Police Department’s Digital Forensic Unit directed the nonprofit United Search Corps to Normandy Lake, following data from Padgett’s last known cell phone ping.
Doug Bishop with United Search Corps located the submerged vehicle, which was later recovered and sent to the TBI for examination. The body inside was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office for identification.
On Thursday, August 28, the TBI confirmed that the remains were Sara Padgett’s and extended condolences to her family and friends.
The Shelbyville Police Department thanked United Search Corps, the TBI, Coffee County authorities, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Tennessee Valley Authority Police for their assistance.
No additional details about the circumstances of Padgett’s death have been released.
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