BREAKING NEWS: Wilton 1st Responders Call Off Search for Missing Woman at Schenck’s Island After Norwalk Police Take Lead on Investigation

BREAKING NEWS: Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025, 4 P.M. — Thursday afternoon, Wilton law enforcement personnel mobilized an intensive search operation for a missing Long Island woman last seen at Schenck’s Island in Wilton Center on Wednesday, Mar. 5. Multiple agencies were involved in the search and rescue efforts, including Wilton Police, Wilton Fire and Wilton CERT.

But by 2:40 p.m. Thursday, first responders began to call back personnel from the foot search of Schenck’s Island after receiving a report that Norwalk Police had taken over the investigation.

According to Wilton Deputy Police Chief Rob Cipolla, the individual of concern was a woman from Long Island who was reported missing by the local agency on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The search in Wilton was initiated after a dog walker contacted Wilton Police to report having seen a woman at Schenck’s Island on Wednesday, Mar. 5 around noon, and then discovering items believed to belong to the woman at the same location 24 hours later.

Wilton Police were able to link the personal belongings to a New York woman who had been reported missing on Tuesday. The investigation prompted a comprehensive search along the Norwalk River in Wilton Center and at points along the river and shoreline further south.

Shortly after noon on Thursday, Wilton Police posted on social media asking for residents’ help in locating a 35-year-old woman from West Islip, NY. Cipolla said that officials had reason to be “concerned with her well being and mental state.”

Wilton’s Emergency Management team had set up a command post at Schenck’s Island and received mutual assistance from Norwalk Police and New Canaan Police departments, as well as more than a dozen Wilton CERT volunteers. Officers deployed a drone and a trained canine unit to assist in the search, which was focused on the river shoreline and the grassy and wooded areas around Schenck’s Island.

Cipolla said that no official confirmation had been made as of 4:30 p.m. as authorities in Norwalk were centering their investigation along a portion of the Norwalk River near Grist Mill Rd. and the Rte. 7 Connector.

Cipolla said local law enforcement will continue working jointly with Norwalk police as the investigation continues and Norwalk Police lead the effort. Cipolla said Wilton detectives were on site in Norwalk assisting in the investigation.

Cipolla said officials did not have any information about the woman’s connection to Wilton or why she was in the area. He did ask that if anyone had seen her at any point this week to contact Wilton Police to assist them in establishing timeframes and assisting the investigation.

Anyone with additional information can contact the Wilton Police Department at 203.834.6260.

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