Missing Fla. jogger is found dead
June 12, 2008
Amy L. Edwards, Sarah Lundy and Walter Pacheco - The Orlando SentinelIssue date: 6/12/08 Section: Real News
ORLANDO, Fla. _ Searchers found the body of a University of Central Florida graduate student hidden in woods Wednesday, nearly 24 hours after she went for an evening run at a popular family park in east Orange County, Fla.
Authorities confirmed that 26-year-old Nicole Ganguzza had been abducted, killed and then left near the post office on Econlockhatchee Trail, which backs up to a running and biking path that passes through Jay Blanchard Park.
"Our worst fears have been confirmed," said Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Allen Lee.
A team discovered the body about 6 p.m. Wednesday after dozens of deputy sheriffs _ including some on horseback and others with bloodhounds _ spent the day scouring the county park off Dean Road, north of Colonial Drive.
"There was some attempt to conceal her," Lee said of the area where her body was found, about two miles away from her car.
Lee did not say how Ganguzza died or whether there were any obvious signs of a struggle. Detectives said they did not know whether she was raped, but investigators are checking with registered sex offenders in the area.
As rain started to fall Wednesday evening, authorities began to carefully processing the area.
"We don't know what we are dealing with as for the size of the scene," Lee said, adding that the location was not easy to reach.
Shortly before Allen confirmed the grim discovery to reporters, relatives of the woman could be seen consoling one another at the park. One woman screamed through her tears.
"She had lots of life ahead of her," Lee said. "The family is devastated."
Their worry began Tuesday when Ganguzza _ an avid jogger _ failed to return home after going for a run at the park about 5:45 p.m.
Brendan Ganguzza of Orlando, her husband of 15 months, reported her missing to the Orange County Sheriff's Office at 9 p.m.
The next morning, deputies began searching the park. At the time, Lee said detectives were "treating this as a worst-case scenario."
Authorities confirmed that 26-year-old Nicole Ganguzza had been abducted, killed and then left near the post office on Econlockhatchee Trail, which backs up to a running and biking path that passes through Jay Blanchard Park.
"Our worst fears have been confirmed," said Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Allen Lee.
A team discovered the body about 6 p.m. Wednesday after dozens of deputy sheriffs _ including some on horseback and others with bloodhounds _ spent the day scouring the county park off Dean Road, north of Colonial Drive.
"There was some attempt to conceal her," Lee said of the area where her body was found, about two miles away from her car.
Lee did not say how Ganguzza died or whether there were any obvious signs of a struggle. Detectives said they did not know whether she was raped, but investigators are checking with registered sex offenders in the area.
As rain started to fall Wednesday evening, authorities began to carefully processing the area.
"We don't know what we are dealing with as for the size of the scene," Lee said, adding that the location was not easy to reach.
Shortly before Allen confirmed the grim discovery to reporters, relatives of the woman could be seen consoling one another at the park. One woman screamed through her tears.
"She had lots of life ahead of her," Lee said. "The family is devastated."
Their worry began Tuesday when Ganguzza _ an avid jogger _ failed to return home after going for a run at the park about 5:45 p.m.
Brendan Ganguzza of Orlando, her husband of 15 months, reported her missing to the Orange County Sheriff's Office at 9 p.m.
The next morning, deputies began searching the park. At the time, Lee said detectives were "treating this as a worst-case scenario."
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