A 29-year-old woman from upstate New York, Leah Bellitto, was found dead on Tuesday morning, days after she went missing in freezing weather.
Leah left her home in Amherst, about 10 miles from downtown Buffalo, on Saturday around 9 p.m. She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, black pajama pants, and carrying a blue floral-patterned backpack. According to reports, she walked into the snow-covered woods behind her house, where temperatures dropped to as low as 25 degrees.
Her family reported her missing on Monday, which led to a community-wide search. During the search, investigators found barefoot prints and handprints near a creek and pond in the direction she was last seen heading.
At 9:55 a.m. on Tuesday, a volunteer searching for Leah discovered her body in a body of water in East Amherst. The Amherst Police Department has launched an investigation but does not suspect foul play. Authorities also assured the public that there is no ongoing danger in the area.
Community Shocked and Saddened
Neighbors and community members expressed their grief over Leah’s tragic death. Trisha Tower, who lives near the area where Leah’s body was found, called the incident “devastating.” She speculated that Leah may have become disoriented in the freezing temperatures.
Volunteer Alesha Conte, who participated in the search, shared how deeply the incident affected her. “It really hits home when something like this happens in your community,” she said. “Everyone needs to come together and help in situations like this.”
Local resident Tom Chiaramonte and his son also joined the search effort after hearing about Leah’s disappearance during the Super Bowl. He was shocked to learn that her body was found so close to his home. “They found her at the creek right up here on Dodge Road,” he said. “It’s incredibly sad for the family.”
School Offers Condolences
Leah was a former student at Nardin Academy, a private Catholic girls’ school. The school expressed its condolences on Facebook, stating, “The entire Nardin community prays for and offers its heartfelt condolences to the Bellitto family, Leah’s friends, and her loved ones.”
Her tragic passing has left the community mourning, as many remember her as a kind and beloved member of their town.
