Local News
47-Year-Old Bette Reilly Found Dead in Scarborough Pond After Reported Missing
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — A missing Westbrook woman was found dead Sunday afternoon after an extensive search at a pond near Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough, according to local authorities.
The victim has been identified as Bette Reilly, 47, of Westbrook, who was last seen walking along the edge of a pond before she disappeared.
According to the Scarborough Police Department, officers and firefighters responded at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday to the Pleasant Hill Driving Range, located at 132 Pleasant Hill Road, after receiving a report of a missing 47-year-old woman.
Investigators determined that Reilly had last been seen walking along the water’s edge near the pond before she could no longer be located.
As the search intensified, the Maine Warden Service Dive Team was called to assist.
Dive team members searched the pond and located Reilly’s body in approximately nine feet of water.
Despite the recovery efforts, Reilly was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Reilly’s body has been transported to the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.
Investigators have not released any information indicating what led to Reilly entering the water, and officials have not announced whether foul play is suspected.
The Scarborough Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Reilly’s death in coordination with the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Officials said the investigation remains active, and additional information is expected to be released once the medical examiner completes the examination and investigators gather further evidence.
The death of Bette Reilly has left family, friends, and members of both the Westbrook and Scarborough communities mourning her loss as authorities work to determine exactly what happened.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.