Divers for Tampa police successfully located and retrieved the body of Miriam Nordlinger, a 72-year-old woman who had been reported missing since Friday night. The distressing discovery was made by the Tampa Police Marine Patrol in the waters off Ballast Point on Sunday morning.

Following her unexplained absence, a purple alert was swiftly issued for Nordlinger, urging the public to provide any information that could assist in locating her. Purple alerts are specifically issued when a mentally or cognitively disabled adult goes missing, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In this case, Nordlinger was known to suffer from depression. She was last seen at approximately 11 p.m. on Friday night, departing from her residence on the 1500 block of S Arawana Ave. in Tampa.

While the investigation is currently in its preliminary stages, law enforcement officials have stated that foul play does not appear to be a factor in Nordlinger’s untimely demise. The exact cause of her death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office in Hillsborough County.

In response to the tragic outcome, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw expressed his condolences to the grieving Nordlinger family, stating, “This is not the outcome we had hoped for. We appreciate the concern of the community and the media, whose support played a crucial role in raising awareness about the search. We kindly request that you continue to keep the family in your thoughts during this difficult time.”