NH Fish and Game: Missing Mass. Hiker's Body Believed to be Found

The body of a missing Massachusetts hiker is believed to have been recovered in Bethlehem, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Department, due to a tip on social media earlier today.

Searchers located the body of a woman that “closely matched the description of Cocuzzo,” 64, of Westwood, MA, along the banks of the Gale River, officials stated.

Positive identification will be made by the New Hampshire Medical Examiner pending tests to confirm the identity.

A family member reported Cocuzzo missing when she did not return from a planned hike in the White Mountain National Forest. Her reported itinerary had been to hike from Mount Garfield Trailhead to Bond Cliff and back, which is about 26 miles.

On Oct. 15, 2015, ground crews from the Fish and Game and the Appalachian Mountain Club searched tent sites at which Cocuzzo had planned to stay. An Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter conducted an aerial search of the trails, cliffs, and drainages in the area, but were unable to find her.

Media outlets were alerted to Cocuzzo’s missing persons status yesterday and a tip came through social media earlier today that officials said assisted the search effort. Hikers had spotted someone who they believed to be Cocuzzo on Sept. 29, 2015, staying at the Gale Head Hut atop Garfield Ridge. This meant, officials said, that Cocuzzo had arrived in New Hampshire a week earlier than previously thought, according to a press statement.

At that time, the area had received a lot of rain in the area and river crossings along hiking trails in the White Mountains were treacherous. It is believed that Cocuzzo was swept away while crossing the swollen Gale River, according to a press statement.

Responders participating in the search effort today included NH Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers; volunteers from Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue and the Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team; and personnel from the US Forest Service. The Grafton County Sheriff’s Department and the Bethlehem Police Department provided critical support for the search operation.

Fish and Game urges outdoor enthusiasts to check weather and trail conditions before heading out on hikes this fall, and to be prepared for potential cold weather, high water, and trails slippery or obscured by fallen leaves.

Learn more about safe hiking at hikesafe.com.