Body Of Missing Chelmsford Woman Found In Merrimack River

LOWELL, MA — The body of a Chelmsford woman who was missing for weeks was found in the Merrimack River. Authorities said Susan Willand, 54, was found near Pawtucket Street in Lowell Friday morning.

Her body was found around 10 a.m. by an employee of a private company using a rake machine to dredge the river. The Chief Medical Examiner's office identified her Friday afternoon.

Willand was last seen the morning of Dec. 20 around on Kennedy Drive in North Chelmsford. Police spent days combing the neighborhood.

Willand's family set up a GoFundMe that raised nearly $9,500 to help "potentially for a time after she returns home so she can get back to her life as smoothly as possible."

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan thanked the community members who tried to find her.

"Today is a sad ending to that search," said Ryan.