BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Police Wednesday identified the body found Tuesday in a backyard in South Buffalo as that of 74-year old Ana Rodriguez.
Buffalo Police Deputy Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia says officers were using a drone when they found a woman's body in the backyard of a South Buffalo home on Lilac St.
Police had been using that drone to search for 74-year-old Ana Rodriguez when they discovered that body.
Rodriguez was found on the same street where she lived. An autopsy determined she died from hypothermia.
She was reported missing Monday afternoon.
It caused a lot of concern because she had dementia and Buffalo was experiencing some freezing temperatures.
She was last seen on Lilac Street and near a Family Dollar on South Park Avenue, according to BPD officials.
Buffalo Police had about 50 officers out Monday night searching for Rodriguez.
They were unable to use a helicopter at the time due to bad weather and finally used it Tuesday morning. A drone later found a woman's body in the backyard of that South Buffalo home.
"It is an occupied residence. It's my understanding that no one was home and I don't believe anyone was home last night either but our detectives are still investigating. The investigation will continue," Gramaglia said. "We are going to look for any video and if anyone has any video, we can find her patterns, where she was walking, what time she may have entered that yard if we can see that, any and all video we would request notification."
2 On Your Side has been told the home where the body was found did not belong to Rodriguez.
BPD used their dive team. They also had help from the Erie County Sheriff's Department, Amherst police, and the Niagara County Sheriff's Department.