GhLinks Media
A 29-year-old woman has been found dead in New York nearly four days after she was reported missing in freezing weather conditions, police have confirmed.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Amherst Police Department confirmed Leah Bellitto — who was last seen by family on Feb. 8 at 9:15 p.m. local time in the Ransom Oaks neighborhood — “was found deceased in the water near Dodge Road,” per a media release shared on X.
“The Amherst Police Department is investigating the discovery of Leah Bellitto, who was reported missing on February 8, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m,” police wrote in the post, adding that, “A citizen walking along the area discovered her at approximately 9:55 a.m.”
“At the time of her discovery, members of the Amherst Police Emergency Response Team, along with volunteer search groups, were in the vicinity conducting search efforts,” officers added in the release.
“The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation. At this time, there are no signs of foul play and there is no apparent danger to the public,” police confirmed, urging anybody with information to come forward.
“We extend our gratitude to the members of the public who have already assisted, as well as our law enforcement and emergency service partners for their support in this investigation,” the post stated.
“The family of Ms. Bellitto is asking for privacy,” police concluded, adding that “no further information” is “available at this time.”
Per AccuWeather, the weather in East Amherst, where Bellitto was discovered, reached a low of -7 degrees on the night she was reported missing, and reached a low of -10 degrees on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The update comes after police issued missing person appeals for Bellitto on social media, confirming she was on foot and “may be wearing a black long sleeve shirt and black pajama pants and a small blue flower-pattern backpack,” per a Feb. 9 X post.
Nardin Academy in Buffalo, N.Y. was among those paying tribute, sharing a photo of Bellitto on Facebook, writing, “We are saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our alumna Leah Bellitto, a member of the Class of 2015. The entire Nardin community prays for and offers its heartfelt condolences to the Bellitto Family, Leah’s friends, and her loved ones. Our thoughts are with them all.”
Dodge Road resident, Trisha Tower, told local ABC-affiliated station WKBW, “It’s just devastating.”
“It’s been so cold and however it happened, maybe going for a walk and just getting disoriented and just been freezing out here and it’s just incredibly sad,” Tower added, per the outlet.
