A number of news sources were reporting on Friday afternoon that a body believed to be that of missing Allentown High School student Sarah Townsend was discovered in a park police had been searching.
Burlington County Public Safety Directory Walter Corter told CBS tracking dogs were searching for the 18-year-old Florence resident when they picked up a scent in Green Acres III Park and led police back to a pond they had searched earlier in the week. NBC reported that a dive team recovered the body.
Corter said at about 1:15 p.m., during their search of the pond, they found a body believed to be that of Ms. Townsend, who car found abandoned on Monday morning.
NBC reported that Ms. Townsend’s boyfriend Matt Welsh, who found her empty car Monday morning, arrived at the scene Friday after police found the body. He ran crying through the crime tape and had to be stopped by police.
Ms. Townsend was last seen by her parents, Roy and Laurie Townsend of East Second Street, Florence, leaving for school. Her boyfriend reported her missing at 10 a.m. after trying to reach her by phone and discovering her car at Green Acres Field near Sherman’s Pond.
Police departments from all over Burlington County, including Bordentown Township, Florence, Palmyra and Medford, and from Philadelphia, all joined in on the search.
Burling Township police Lt. Bruce Painter said earlier this week that 100 people, dogs and a helicopter were aiding in the search.
Townsend’s family and friends put up a $10,000 reward for the teen’s safe return.

