Sources Tell CBS 2 Body Found Near Missing Long Island Mother's Car Is Sarah Goode
MEDFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The body of a young woman found in a wooded area of Medford, Long Island is indeed that of 21-year-old missing mother Sarah Patricia Goode, CBS 2 News has learned.
As CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan reported, Goode had not been seen alive since Friday, June 6, when members of her family came to the wooded crime scene in Medford.
The volunteer search party found the body, described as a "young female,'' in a thickly wooded area off Camden Court in a residential part of Medford and called 911 shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, said Suffolk County police Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer.
"We searched all of Mastic and Shirley and came up nothing, so we worked our way towards where the car was seen out in Medford," volunteer searcher David Zornes told 1010 WINS. "So we looked at the map and saw a big wooded area so we decided to search this."
Beyrer said the body was discovered "in close proximity'' to where Goode's BMW was found on Sunday.
Listen: Authorities Working To ID Body Found Near Missing Long Island Woman's Car
The discovery of the lifeless body came days after her family pleaded tearfully for her safe return. Fliers had gone up, and makeshift memorials were set up next to where Goode's gray 1999 BMW was found unoccupied under suspicious circumstances.
Police dogs returned to the spot looking for blood and other evidence. Meanwhile, neighbors were on edge Friday.
"Dangerous woods, very dangerous," a Medford homeowner named Cindy told CBS 2's Janelle Burrell. "They call the cops, there's sexual activity, there are all types of things that go on. We've called the cops constantly."
"We have our families here, we have our kids here and we want them to be safe," said resident James Horn.
The scene is not far from the home where Goode lived with her mother and 4-year-old daughter.
No manner of death for the victim has been made official, but three friends have been sharing what they know of a possible struggle that Goode may have had with a male acquaintance.
"We had already spoken to a detective about this yesterday," said Crystal Ryan, a friend of Goode's. "I had her call when I was on the phone; went to call her family."
The body of the young mother was set to be autopsied late Friday.
The youngest of nine children, Goode graduated from Longwood High School, attended business school, and worked in Patchogue as a medical technician.
According to police, she had watched a movie on TV with some close friends Friday night. Police did not say when and how the group parted for the night.
An older sister of Goode's called police around 9 p.m. Sunday, saying that the close-knit family hadn't heard from her in two days and that was unusual, police said.
It was about an hour later when Goode's car abandoned on Fire Avenue near New London Avenue in Medford.
Listen: Authorities Working To ID Body Found Near Missing Long Island Woman's Car
With the body now having been found, many neighbors were heartbroken.
"She has a baby," said Medford neighbor Manny Fernandez. "It's really heartbreaking for everybody around here; it's devastating for the community."
"We send our condolences to them," said Medford homeowner James Horn, "and we want people to know that this Medford community is a very family-oriented community."
Homicide detectives were expected to share details of the case later. In the meantime, Goode's family was asking whoever was responsible for her death to turn themselves in.
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