Canonsburg woman found dead in Westmoreland County
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A Canonsburg woman who was reported missing last week was found dead in a car in a parking lot in Westmoreland County Wednesday morning, police said.
The body of Murphy Hickerson, 43, was discovered shortly before 6 a.m. in the parking lot of Gabriel Brothers in Rostraver by a store manager, said Canonsburg police Sgt. Don Cross. The manager told police that he spotted the car on April 29 before he left for vacation. When it was still there upon his return this morning, he found Ms. Hickerson dead in the backseat.
Ms. Hickerson, who suffered from depression and a range of medical problems stemming from a double organ transplant, was reported missing April 29, a day after she stormed out of the Canonsburg home she shared with her mother. Her mother and sister told police she was upset because she wanted to visit an ailing cousin in New York City, but her uncle had asked her to delay the trip.
Sgt. Cross said bank records and surveillance video showed she purchased cat litter and cat food at a local Shop'n Save and gas at a gas station. She called two other relatives that day but was not heard from again.
The Westmoreland County Coroner is awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine how she died. Deputy Coroner John Ackerman said investigators found no trauma on her body and do not suspect foul play.
First Published May 10, 2012 12:00 am
