Missing Ligonier woman found dead during search

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COOK TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A missing Ligonier woman was found dead during a search Tuesday.

The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said Amy Shipley, 45, was found dead during a search on Helen’s Lane in Cook Township.

Detectives began searching for Shipley on Tuesday.

>> Detectives, police asking for help to find missing Ligonier woman

She was last seen on Sept. 8 in the 500 block of West Vincent Street in Ligonier Borough. That location is more than nine miles away from where Shipley’s body was found. Officials said the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are not known at this time.

Neighbors declined to speak with Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek on camera, but they say they noticed crews arrive at the home early Tuesday afternoon. They were digging in the woods behind the home and then brought an excavator in to assist. Neighbors said crews didn’t leave until early Wednesday morning.

The Westmoreland County Coroner told Channel 11 Wednesday afternoon it was too early to comment on the case, as the autopsy and toxicology report were still being worked on. There is no word as to what Shipley’s cause of death may have been.

The District Attorney’s office said a criminal investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information on Shipley’s disappearance or death, please call Westmoreland County Detectives at 724-830-3287 or Ligonier Valley Police at 724-238-5105.

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