Body found in burned car identified as missing Perryopolis woman
A body found in a burned car Friday morning was identified as a missing 74-year-old Perryopolis woman, state police said.
Caroline 鈥淪usie鈥� Branthoover was last seen on surveillance cameras driving a red Pontiac sedan on Independence Avenue at 1 a.m. Wednesday. Her family reported her missing and organized a search party Friday. The search party found a vehicle matching the description of the woman蘑菇视频 car with a body inside at about 10 a.m. in a wooded area of state game lands along French Island Road.
The vehicle identification number determined the car was registered to Branthoover. She was identified by a serial number on a surgical rod in her hip, according to State Police Trooper Robert Broadwater. Police do not believe foul play caused her death.
鈥淭he police investigation will rule that out,鈥� he said.
She died of smoke inhalation, determined during an autopsy based on high levels of carbon monoxide and soot in her lungs, Broadwater said.
Further investigation will determine why her vehicle traveled off the road, he said.
Branthoover suffered from memory problems and other health conditions, including COPD, Perryopolis police said.
Haley Branthoover, who identified herself as the woman蘑菇视频 granddaughter on Facebook, thanked the community for their help and support.
鈥淚 want to just thank everyone who helped us search and prayed for my grandmother,鈥� she wrote Monday afternoon. 鈥淭hank you for coming together as a community and thank you to people who didn鈥檛 even know her that cared so much.鈥�
She was a waitress and bartender at the Star Junction Rod & Gun Club, according to her obituary.