Halle Schmidt. (Columbia County Sheriff’s Department)
A family member has identified a body found in a wooded area on September 10 as that of missing Copake, New York woman Halle Schmidt.
The 21-year-old Schmidt’s family and sheriff’s officials have been searching for her since she was reported missing just days before. Copake is a town of about 3,600 people located about an hour from Albany.
The body was discovered in Kinderhook, New York, about 30 minutes from Copake. However, authorities have not yet identified the body as that of Schmidt, although they say the person found was an adult female.
The sheriff said that he was not sure whether drugs or foul play were involved, said The Register Star.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Halle Had Been Missing Almost a Week
Police seek Halle Schmidt, 21, last seen Sept. 2 in Greenport, who sometimes visits the Albany area. Call 828-4316
On September 7, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department informed the community that Halle was a missing person.
According to the sheriff’s post on Facebook, on September 4, 2016, family members of Schmidt reported her missing to the Sheriff’s Office. She was described as “21 years old and described as a white female who is approximately 5’ 7” tall and weighs 125 lbs. She has blonde hair, green eyes and is light skinned.”
The Sheriff’s Department said Schmidt was last seen wearing black colored jeans, a blue shirt along with a blue Lacoste baseball hat with an alligator logo on it, and blue converse sneakers.
2. Schmidt Might Have Been at a Party Before She Disappeared
Autopsy will determine if remains found n Ghent are those of missing Copake woman Halle Schmidt. @CBS6Albany
The Sheriff also wrote on Facebook, “Ms Schmidt was last seen on the morning of Friday, September 2, 2016 on Green Street in the Town of Greenport. It has also been reported that she may have been at a party on Joslen Blvd in Greenport late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, however that report has not been confirmed.”
The sheriff also said “Ms. Schmidt is known to frequent areas in the City of Hudson as well as areas in the City of Albany.”
However, the Register Star said “Schmidt was last seen at the Joslyn Motor Lodge in Greenport.”
3. A Candlelight Vigil Was Held for Halle on September 10
A photo Halle’s mother, Angela Concra, posted on Facebook. (Facebook/Angela Concra)
Halle’s mother, Angela Concra, told The Register Star that the community was coming together for a candlelight vigil.
“It [the vigil] is to help bring my baby home,” Concra said, to the newspaper. “It’s to show her how many people are here for her and to support her.”
Erika Concra-Porreca, Halle’s aunt, told News 10, “We always used to sing and do karaoke and stuff, an amazing person.”
4. Family Members Identified Halle’s Body Through Her Tattoos
#BREAKING: Family members identify body found in #Kinderhook as missing woman from #Copake: t.co/I85xrMTVaK
The Sheriff’s Department said that the body was found in Kinderhook, New York.
“The Criminal Investigative Branch of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office developed information during the course of investigating a missing person case, which led them to the Old Post Road area,” said the Sheriffs Department on Facebook.
“After a short but extensive search, Investigators discovered the remains of an adult female. The Sheriff’s Office is in the process of making a positive identification of the body and hopes to have further information after an autopsy is performed. The autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow morning at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany NY.”
A family member told local news reporters that the body was that of Halle based on tattoo identification.
5. Schmidt’s Family Had Been Desperately Searching for Her
Brother of Halle Schmidt putting up fliers around Hudson to find missing sister.
According to News 10, Schmidt’s family was desperately searching for her, including her brother, Kyle.
Kyle Schmidt and a friend were posting fliers all day and night, said the TV station, which quoted Kyle Schmidt as saying, “I’m missing my sister, and I just hope she comes home.” He told News 10 it wasn’t like Halle to not contact their mother.