Body of Missing Garden Ridge Woman Leanne Bearden Found in Texas in Wooded Area … Death Appears to be an Apparent Suicide (MAP of Area) … Suicide?(Update: Death Ruled a Suicide … Asphyxiation by Hanging)

33 year old Leanne Bearden has been missing since January 17, 2014 when she was last seen going for a walk on Friday afternoon around 1:00 pm in the Garden Ridge, TX area. Several searches have taken place for the missing woman to no avail. Today, Garden Ridge police Chief Donna O’Conner said a body found in the backyard of a Garden Ridge home this afternoon is believed to be that of missing Leanne Bearden.  According to reports, the death appears to be an apparent suicide. Bearden’s body was found a few blocks from where she was last seen walking  on Jan. 17 by a man working in the area.

Seriously? Leanne Bearden has been missing for about a month, numerous searches were made, including a 23 sq. mile targeted area, yet a two block radius around the home that Bearden left to go on her walk on January 17th was not searched with a fine tooth comb, really? Law enforcement and the family believed from the outset that there was no foul play, Leanne might have left on her own, or she might have injured herself or gotten lost while on her hike.  Neighbors and property owners were asked to be on the look out for the missing woman and to check their property and out-buildings. With all that, Leanne Bearden was sadly found today deceased what is stated to be an apparent suicide. I must admit having been a part of many missing person searches, I am a bit amazed and some what suspicious that this area was not previously and better searched.

The home where her body was found is located in the 21000 block of Fairview Circle, about two blocks from where she was last seen.

A source in Comal County confirmed to KSAT’s Steve Spriester late Thursday afternoon that her death was an apparent suicide.

Dispatch received a call at 12:18 p.m. on Thursday from a man who told them he spotted a body in a wooded area behind his house, O’Conner said.

The homeowner said he discovered Bearden’s body around noon on Thursday in a brushy area behind his home.

That area is an undeveloped part of his property he does not walk through often, but did on Thursday.

Garden Ridge police, Comal County Sheriff’s deputies and Texas Rangers went to the scene and examined the body, which had some identifying jewelry as well as a backpack, O’Conner said. She was apparently found with the same backpack she was carrying when she left her in-laws house.

click HERE or on MAP for larger view

A: Location of home where Leanne Bearden left on 1/17/14

B: 21000 block of Fairview Circle area where Leanne’s body was found.

The location where her body was found (B) was about a half mile away from the home she left from (A) or about a 13 minute walk.

Google Earth – click HERE

wooded area where body was found

UPDATE I: Thursday evening, Bearden’s family issued the following statement:

“Our family is understandably devastated by the news of the recovery of the remains of our beloved Leanne. We wish to thank the myriad of people who helped us search for Leanne, and who helped support us throughout this entire nightmare. We also wish to thank the members of the media who helped us tell our story. We thank the Garden Ridge Police Department and other agencies who provided such caring service to us. We especially thank the Heidi Search Center for their wonderful help and support. Although this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we draw comfort and strength from the outpouring of prayers, actions and good wishes from all — including over 20,000 Facebook friends. We ask for your continued prayers and good wishes for our family. Leanne was a lovely and remarkable young woman and we will all miss her greatly.”

UPDATE II: Body of missing woman found in wooded Texas area. … Chief of Police Not Speculating on Cause of death.

The body of a woman who had been missing for almost a month was found in a wooded area behind a home Thursday in Garden Ridge.

Leanne Bearden, 33, went for a walk on Jan. 17 while visiting her in-laws in Garden Ridge, and never came back.

Police responded to the scene around noon after receiving a tip from a person who spotted the body.

Donna O’Conner, Garden Ridge’s police chief, said both families had been notified after the body was found with ID, jewelry and a backpack, according to WOAI, the NBC affiliate in San Antonio.

The chief would not speculate as to the cause of death, and said they were waiting to get “all the facts.”

UPDATE III: Death Of Missing Denver Woman In Texas Ruled Suicide.

Police in Texas have released a statement saying a Denver woman who was missing for weeks and was found dead on Thursday killed herself.

Leanne Bearden went for a walk from her in-laws’ home in Garden Ridge, Texas on Jan. 17. She never returned. Her body was discovered just blocks from where she was last seen.

“Bearden’s preliminary cause of death result is asphyxiation by hanging,” according to a release from Garden Ridge, Texas, Police Chief Donna O’Conner.

For more updates, provide your own opinions and analysis and read others, go to Scared Monkeys Missing Persons Forum: Leanne Hecht Bearden.