Sarah Townsend An investigation into the death of Sarah Townsend has concluded that the 18- year-old took her own life on May 9.
Burlington County Medical Examiner Ian Hood did not find any signs of trauma on Townsend’s body or any indication that foul play contributed to her drowning, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office provided by Public Information Officer Joel Bewley on July 29. “Dr. Hood has determined that the manner of Sarah’s death was suicide,” the statement said.
Other evidence Hood used for his conclusion were the presence of a suicide note and the toxicology test results.
“The toxicology tests revealed that Sarah had significant levels of cocaine in her system at the time of her death,” the statement said. “Sarah also left a suicide note in her car.”
The prosecutor’s office denied requests for more precise information regarding the toxicology test and for any further information beyond the statement.
“Out of respect for Sarah and her family, this is the extent of the information that will be released concerning Sarah’s death,” the statement said. “Our office will not be providing any further information or comment, and we consider this matter closed.”
Townsend reportedly left her home in Florence Township in Burlington County at 7 a.m. on May 9. Her friend Matt Welsh, 20, of Columbus, reported her missing at 10 a.m. He told authorities he discovered her car running with the driver’s door open and her personal belongings inside at the park several miles from her home. Police, including K-9 units and dive teams, searched the park and pond until dark on May 9 and then again on May 10 without finding any clues related to Townsend’s disappearance. They called off the search on the afternoon of May 10. Family, friends and concerned residents organized their own searches of the site in the days that followed, and her parents offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Townsend’s safe return. Police reported on May 12 that they had reason to believe that Townsend wanted to harm herself and they would search the park again. During a search the next day, K-9 police dogs led officers to the pond, and a dive team retrieved Townsend’s body.
A member of the varsity field hockey and lacrosse teams, Townsend had plans to attend the June 4 prom and was to have graduated on June 22. Her funeral service took place on May 22. She is survived by her parents, one brother, a grandfather and many other relatives and friends. The family has a Sarah Townsend Memorial Fund page on Facebook, where they are collecting donations for a scholarship in her name.
Townsend’s father, Roy, is a buildings and grounds employee at the Upper Freehold Regional School District. The district allows employees, regardless of where they live, to enroll their children in its schools. Hence, Townsend attended Allentown High School and not the high school in Florence.