Police identify body pulled from Roanoke River as 53-year-old woman

Authorities found the body in the river Tuesday morning

ROANOKE, Va.UPDATE - 10/18 at 4:30 p.m.

Roanoke police have identified the body recovered from the Roanoke River as 53-year-old Betty "Susie" Fitzgerald Britt. 

Authorities say she was reported missing on October 5. 

The Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death to be an accidental drowning, and have attributed the death to recent storms. 

UPDATE - 10/18 at 2:30 p.m.

The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has attributed the drowning death of a body found in Roanoke this week to Hurricane Florence.

 

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UPDATE

Police say the body was uncovered during cleanup efforts after flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Michael. 

Police spokeswoman Caitlyn Cline says police don't have any reports of missing persons during the storm, but it's too early to tell how the person died.  


ORIGINAL STORY - 10/16/18

A police investigation is underway along the Roanoke River after a body was found in the river, according to Roanoke Police. 

A swift water crew, police and fire crews are working by Wiley Drive, which is close to the Green Goat Restaurant and the River House apartments. 

At about 8:30 a.m., Roanoke Police responded to the area in reference to a body found in the Roanoke River during the cleanup efforts following the flood associated with Tropical Storm Michael, according to Caitlyn Cline with the Roanoke Police Department.

The remains have been sent to the Medical Examiner's Office for identification and determination of the cause of death.

The investigation is ongoing.