State police identify woman found dead in Westmoreland County pond

NEW STANTON BOROUGH, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police has identified the body of a woman who was found dead in a Westmoreland County pond Monday.

Police say the woman was found dead in a pond near 202 Broadview Road in New Stanton Borough around 10:40 a.m.

While police say she’s been identified, they’re currently withholding her identity while notifying next-of-kin.

But, troopers need the public’s help in figuring out what happened to her.

Neighbors say they are in shock. One of those neighbors is Barry Howe.

When Howe went to his landlord’s house to pay rent on Saturday, the landlord’s wife mentioned they saw something floating in the pond on their property.

“Who knows what could be floating in the pond,” Howe said. “It’s up there in the woods! Surrounded by woods.”

He couldn’t believe the news when state police said it was a woman’s body.

“I said ‘there’s just no way,’” Howe said. “I mean, you talk about being shocked?”

Police are now asking anyone with information that can help them in their investigation to come forward.

Police have identified the woman, but haven’t released her name. They say she’s about 5 feet, 4 inches or 5 feet, 5 inches tall. She was wearing black Aeropostale leggings, a black shirt that said “XL’ “Xerolimits,” and “Because large isn’t big enough” printed on the shirt.

She also had a belly button piercing and was wearing three necklaces.

Troopers say she had tattoos on her chest, left arm, upper right arm, and a large tattoo of a cat on her left thigh.

“My wife is a total basket case for lack of a better word because she’s worried she’s not safe,” Howe said. “I mean, if you think about it, out here in the middle of all this beautiful country, we’d find someone floating in the pond.”

Chopper 11 flew over the pond Tuesday afternoon. Police spent much of the day working to drain the water.

They — and the Howes — just want to know what happened.

“If anyone knows anything, come forward, please. Let us get this resolved so that I can have peace of mind, which right now, I don’t have, nor does my wife, and we can get this put behind us,” Howe said. “That would be greatly appreciated.”

Anyone with information is asked to immediately contact Tpr. Evan Terek at 724-832-3288.

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