MISSISSIPPI — Authorities say the body of a missing Tupelo woman was found Saturday morning in Bay Springs Lake following an overnight search.
Officials identified the victim as 59-year-old Elaine Kerndt.
According to investigators, Kerndt’s vehicle was discovered Friday morning abandoned on the Waterway Bridge along Highway 30 in the Paden area. Deputies and dive teams responded and searched the surrounding waters but were unable to locate her at that time.
Search efforts continued into Saturday. Shortly after dawn, a fisherman found Kerndt’s body about one and a half miles south of the bridge and alerted authorities.
Her body has been recovered and will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
Officials said no additional details have been released, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about Kerndt’s movements Friday morning in the Highway 30 bridge area is asked to contact law enforcement.
