Aiello, 22, had been missing since April 9 when she left her family's Hillsborough home. Her purse was found that night on the upper level of the George Washington Bridge and a month-long search ensued.
Her body was discovered Wednesday afternoon near the 158th Street shoreline of Manhattan, about one mile south of the bridge. The body was confirmed to be Aiello's this morning by New York City's Medical Examiner, Hillsborough police reported.
Paige Aiello's sister Erin said Hillsborough police notified the family at their home today, leaving around 1 p.m.
Update: Paige Aiello's family recalls 'cherished' TCNJ tennis captain as 'glue that kept everyone together'
Aiello would have graduated from TCNJ in Ewing next week.
"This is devastating news for our campus community, its magnitude compounded as we reach the end of the academic year," TCNJ president R. Barbara Gitenstein said in a statement.
"She was a really sharp, bright young lady," Vice President for College Advancement John Donohue said today.
College officials are planning to honor Aiello during graduation ceremonies. Aiello completed all her required coursework and will be considered as a TCNJ graduate, Donohue said.
"She earned her degree," he said.
A statement was being sent out to the campus community informing them of the news.
"It's been a rough couple of weeks, needless to say, here," Donohue said.
Aiello had been under severe stress leading up to her disappearance, her family has said. Concerns about her well-being led her to resume living at home in Somerset County rather than at an on-campus apartment as she entered the final weeks of the semester.
Erin Aiello had said her sister was a "driven kid" who had been accepted into Rutgers law school and was planning on attending this fall.
Searches by both the Aiello family and Hillsborough police at the home did not turn up any note or communication from Paige Aiello, Erin Aiello said. Authorities have said they found no immediate signs of foul play in her disappearance.
The
body of a woman was recovered Wednesday from the Hudson River floating
near the rocks at 158th Street in Manhattan, which is roughly one mile
south of the George Washington Bridge. Based on video surveillance, investigators determined Aiello took at train to New York's Penn Station and was last seen walking in the direction of the George Washington Bridge, where he purse, wallet and mobile phone were found.
A "Find Paige Aiello" Facebook page dedicated to the search generated thousands of followers. Today, the family posted a message confirming the news.
"It is with a heavy heart that we report to you that the body recovered yesterday is that of Paige. We want to thank each and every one of you for never giving up hope and continuing to help try and find Paige. At this time, we ask for your continued prayers and support for Paige's family, friends and community during this most difficult time.
Thank you."
The circumstances that led to her being found in the Hudson River a month later remain under investigation.
Law enforcement authorities are in their fifth day of searching for clues for missing Hillsborough college student Paige Aiello, who disappeared Tuesday, April 9.
―>According to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, Ms. Aiello, 21, and a student and a tennis player at The College of New Jersey, was last seen by her father on Tuesday at about 1 p.m. at home.
―>At about 3 p.m., Ms. Aiello’s mother noticed that her vehicle, a 2006 grey Audi A4, was taken without her permission and that her daughter was missing. The parents tried unsuccessfully to contact their daughter on her cell phone, and Mr. Aiello reported her missing with the Hillsborough Township Police Department at about 7:45 p.m., when a missing person investigation was begun.
―>At about 8:30 p.m., Hillsborough detectives were told that a so-called Good Samaritan came upon Ms. Aiello’s purse, cellphone and car keys while the finder was walking on the south walkway of the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. The woman contacted Ms. Aiello’s parents, who in turn called local police.
Hillsborough detectives contacted the New York Police Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and notified them of the missing person investigation.
―>At about 11:24 p.m. law enforcement agencies initiated a search for Ms. Aiello in the Hudson River in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge, as well as both levels of the bridge. Port Authority Police Department was assisted in the search by Harbor Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, New York Police Department Patrol and Aviation Units.
At about 11:40 p.m. the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Squad was notified of the missing person investigation.
―>The next day, April 10, at about 10:19 p.m., Mrs. Aiello’s 2006 A4 Audi was located by the New Brunswick Police Department in the Gateway parking garage on Somerset Street in New Brunswick. The vehicle was taken to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Forensic Laboratory for examination. Detectives have contacted New Jersey Transit Police to assist in the investigation because of the closeness of the parking deck to the train station.
Anyone having information about Paige Aiello’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-575-3300, Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS(8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE.” All calls are confidential.
Source: http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2013/04/13/hillsborough_beacon/featured/doc5169bb4d9927a780895772.txt
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Amy Kinney
Distribution & Missing Alerts Manager
LostNMissing, Incwww.lostnmissing.com
For Located Missing please check our Missing/Located page at : http://lostnmissing.posterous.com/
LostNMissing, Inc. is a state and federally
recognized 501c(3) Nonprofit charitable organization to assist law
enforcement and the families of missing. We strive to help prevent loved
ones from going missing and to bring awareness of those who are, by
providing support to families. We work with various law enforcement
agencies across the country, on behalf of families of missing, and help
to bring awareness via community events for the families, media,
internet and social networking for missing loved ones. We never charge a
fee for our services. If you received this email by error, or would
like added to our distribution list for missing and located loved ones,
please email lostnmissing@comcast.net to be added to our mailing list.
