Body of Taunton Woman Missing from Horseneck Found in Newport

The body of a Taunton woman whose car was found parked at Horseneck Beach in Westport last week was discovered Saturday in the water off Ocean Drive in Newport.

Rhode Island State Police on Monday identified the woman as 51-year-old Jane Schultz.

Environmental Police Officers with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management responded to the Brenton Point area on April 11 around 1 p.m. following a report of a body pulled from the water.

“Because the incident did not appear boating-related, the EPOs involved both the RI State Police and Massachusetts State Police and learned that the decedent might be a missing person out of Massachusetts,” a DEM spokesman told the Newport Daily News.

Massachusetts State Police later confirmed that her vehicle was located at Horseneck Beach at some point last week and that Schultz was the missing person.

Two passersby called 911 Saturday afternoon when they saw the body. The state medical examiner had the body transported to Providence for an autopsy.

Rhode Island State Police Lieutenant John Charbonneau told the Newport newspaper that there are no apparent signs of foul play, but that an investigation is underway.