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A body discovered in the Norwalk River on Thursday has been identified as a West Islip woman, according to Norwalk, Connecticut, police.
Norwalk police found 35-year-old Paige Fannon’s body near the area of Main Avenue and Grist Mill Road while assisting Wilton police in searching for a missing person, police said. Officers with the Norwalk Police Department’s Scuba Team and fire personnel recovered the woman’s body.
“The members of the Norwalk Police Department extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Paige Fannon,” Norwalk Police Lt. Tomasz Podgorski told The Hour.
Wilton police contacted Norwalk officers about 12:50 p.m. Thursday, requesting to use the department’s drone to help find a missing person. Norwalk police responded to Schenck’s Island off of Ridgefield Road and learned of clothing and personal items that had been left near the bank of the Norwalk River, Podgorski said.
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Officers believed the individual had gone into the Norwalk River, and crews began their search. Using the drone, police searched south along the riverbanks of the Norwalk River while additional police and fire personnel searched along the river, according to Podgorski.
Police noted that the river was flowing rapidly due to heavy rainfall the night before.
Community supporting her family
Fannon’s friend Kristen Curto-Buckley posted a heartfelt message on Facebook.
“This is so devastating!
I am so sorry Paige. You will be truly missed!” Curto-Buckley wrote. “I will forever cherish our memories at the salon. They were some of the best years ever! Sending love and prayers of healing to your family during this difficult time.”
Fannon leaves behind her parents, two sisters, a brother, and many extended family members, according to a GoFundMe effort established on Friday to help Fannon’s family with costs associated to her death.
Donors have so far contributed more than $5,000 to the fundraiser.
“If you had the honor of knowing Paige, you would know how deeply she cared for who she loved,” wrote Jade Batsche, who established the GoFundMe page. “You would know how strong she would fight for you, when you were down.”
You can click here to contribute to the GoFundMe, or tap the button below.
“Words cannot describe the pain and stress our family is feeling in this time of need,” Batsche said. “I am asking for help; to help my friends and take some of this family’s stress away during this grieving period.”
Missing since Tuesday
Wilton police had alerted the public on Wednesday that Fannon was reported missing in New York on Tuesday. She was last seen about noon on Wednesday in Wilton, near Schneck’s Island, police said.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Norwalk Police Detective Bureau at 203.854.3011 or email Detective Lindsey Taylor at [email protected].
Anonymous internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at www.norwalkpd.com
Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NORWALKPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411).
Top photo: Paige Fannon of West Islip had been missing since Tuesday (Wilton police).
