The remains of a woman last seen Sept. 8 were recovered from along a rural road Tuesday in Cook Township.
Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson on Wednesday identified the body as that of Amy R. Shipley, 45, of Ligonier. He said her body was discovered about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday on a residential property at 116 Helens Lane in Cook.
A ruling on the cause and manner of Shipley’s death awaits further investigation and final results of an autopsy performed Wednesday and toxicology tests, Carson said.
A spokesperson said the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office is pursuing a criminal investigation in the case. No charges had been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier Tuesday, the District Attorney’s Office announced it was searching for Shipley, who last was seen Sept. 8 on West Vincent Street, where she lived. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance were unknown at that time, according to authorities. Her family members could not be reached Wednesday.
The West Vincent Street home, in a small, tucked-away cluster of mobile homes, is about 9 miles from where her body was discovered on Helens Lane.
A backhoe sat parked in the yard there Wednesday afternoon, and the driveway off Helens Lane was blocked off by a neighbor.
Ligonier Valley police, who were involved in the search, and state police referred inquiries about the investigation to the District Attorney’s Office.
Additional details weren’t released Wednesday.
Funeral arrangements weren’t immediately available.
