Officials identify body found in Hempstead Lake State Park

Park police find remains in month-long search for missing woman

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An autopsy conducted by the Nassau County medical examiner's office last Friday has confirmed that the decomposed body found at Hempstead Lake State Park on July 18 is that of Catherine Brady, 28, a homeless woman who was reported missing on July 6.

According to police, a fisherman discovered Brady's remains at around 6:30 p.m. in North Pond, which officials investigated despite its “inaccessible” grounds from overgrown vegetation.

Brady was last seen on June 16, though her male companion did not report her as missing until three weeks later. Police have stated that no foul play is detected in this case and that her companion is not considered as a suspect.

State Park Police and New York State Police searched for Brady near North Pond on July 6 and 7, then again at the start of last week. The search last Wednesday involved troopers and canine units investigating the area near South Pond from 6 to 10 a.m.

Police also conducted interviews with Brady’s friends and associates between these two rounds of physical searches, though officers did not find any new information and decided to launch another search of the park.

While the autopsy has identified Brady's body, officials said that they have yet to determine the cause of death and that this investigation is ongoing.

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