Hellen Cook’s body believed to have been recovered

BENTON COUNTY, Mo. — The Benton County Sheriff’s Office as well as members from the Missouri Region C Technical Rescue Team believe they found the remains of Hellen Cook on Sunday. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the remains were found in an area of initial interest near a lake where some of Cook’s clothing was found earlier in the search.

A positive identification is pending the results of a DNA test. Cook’s family has said that some items found with the remains did belong to Cook.

The release also stated the family’s gratitude for the many volunteers that assisted with the search with both their time and resources. Cook, 72, walked away from a family vacation home near Warsaw, Mo. on July 13, triggering a massive search for the woman who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.