Indiana woman, 80, found dead in ditch with dog had drowned

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - An 80-year-old woman found dead along with her dog in a ditch days after she went missing from her north-central Indiana home had died from drowning, a coroner said.

Howard County Coroner Dr. Steven Seele said no foul play is suspected in Betty Stroup's death, although a final ruling is pending toxicology results. An autopsy had indicated that the Kokomo woman had died by drowning, the Kokomo Tribune reported.

Stroup, who had advanced dementia, disappeared early on May 26 from her residence, prompting a Silver Alert, numerous tips and several community-wide searches.

The Howard County Sheriff's Office said that Stroup and her dog, Cookie, were both found dead Sunday evening in a ditch less than a mile from Stroup's residence.

Police did not indicate how long she and her dog were in the ditch before they were located or how they might have ended up in the waterway about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.