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Woman’s body found on Yorktown Beach

Posted at 1:34 PM, Mar 09, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-09 20:11:24-04

Yorktown, Va. - Police are investigating after a woman's body was found at Yorktown beach near the 500 block of Water Street.

The woman has been identified as Rose Richardson, 74.

Nicole Miclette, manager of a nearby restaurant, spotted the body around 11 a.m. Sunday and called police. She says she as she was opening the doors to the restaurant, a man came in asking her to come outside. That's when she saw the body.

"As we got closer to the shore, it appeared to be a bag I thought at first," Miclette said, "but after standing there for a minute I saw her bra strap, and at that point I realized it was a woman floating face down in the water."

Once she saw the woman, Miclette quickly called 911. Emergency crews were on the scene within minutes, but while Miclette waited, the 911 operator asked her if she could do CPR.

"At that point it was more than obvious that she had been floating along the river for a little while, and at that point I did not feel that would help her at all," she said.

Although the sun was shining Sunday, the water was around 42 degrees.

Police say the 74-year-old either died from drowning or hypothermia.  They do not suspect foul play.  An official autopsy will take place Monday.