Patti Pendleton's Body Found

COVENTRY, RI — Patti Pendleton's body was found today in a swampy area near the Connecticut border, according to Rose Jones, of the state Department of Environmental Management.

Pendleton, 59, of Coventry, was last heard from Monday, Nov. 28. She was thought to be hiking in the Arcadia Management Area on a trail south of Route 165 with her two dogs, a fox terrier and and toy poodle.

Her family reported her missing after she did not arrive at work. Police and volunteers searched the area until Friday at 5 p.m. when the search was called off.

State police and the state Department of Environmental Management recovered her body Sunday, Dec. 4.

"She was found by our environmental police officers with assistance from hikers in the area," Jones said. "Our thoughts are with the family."

According to Coventry police, Pendleton died "from apparent exposure to the elements," but the exact cause of death is to be determined.

"Pendleton was found in a location that was extremely difficult to access," police said. "She was located in the
area referred to as Cat Swamp, west of Deep Pond which is close to the Connecticut border. First responders needed chainsaws and brush clearing equipment to access the area where her body was discovered."

Her two dogs "were found alive and safe near her body," police said. DEM took the dogs to a veterinarian for treatment."

Her son Mike had continued the search on Saturday and Sunday, despite cautions from police, due to the fact shotgun hunting season started on Saturday. He posted on his Facebook page he believed his mother was still out there.

The police were keeping the investigation open, Col. John MacDonald said earlier. State police, the state Department of Environmental Management and Coventry police had participated in the search along with numerous volunteers.

"The RI State Police, Coventry Police, West Warwick Police, West Warwick/Coventry Regional SWAT Team, Western Coventry Fire, Department of Environmental Police Enforcement and Forestry, Exeter Fire and Rescue, Connecticut Environmental Police, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, Disaster Medical Assistance Team, RI Task Force 2 Search and Rescue Team, RI Emergency Management Associates among other agencies" searched more than 4,200 acres in the woods, he said.

"The RI 126th Aviation Battalion, out of Quonset and the RI State Helicopter" searched 10 square miles from the air but found no trace of Pendleton or the dogs.

During the day Sunday, volunteers reported finding an orange baseball style cap, which was posted on the Mike Pendleton's Facebook page. Although some volunteers commented they had seen someone searching on Saturday with that same cap, Pendleton was believed to have been wearing an orange hat when last seen, police said earlier.

A GoFundMe page, "Bring Patti Home," has been started, and people contributed this afternoon.

The Patch will update the story as more information becomes available.