New York State Police said they have located a body in a canal in Seneca County, near where a submerged sport utility vehicle was pulled from the water hours earlier.


Trooper Mark O'Donnell said the body was found about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday in the canal, about 20 to 30 feet from where the SUV was spotted.

Troopers and Canandaigua police officers on Tuesday night located the SUV belonging to Monica Zello, 29, in the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.

The SUV was submerged in the water near Route 96A in Waterloo and was first spotted around 7:30 p.m. Zello was not inside her vehicle, O'Donnell said. The Cayuga-Seneca Canal connects the Erie Canal to Cayuga and Seneca lakes.

O'Donnell said he has "no idea" how the woman and the SUV ended up in the water. The body was sent to the medical examiner's office for autopsy and identification.

Zello was reported missing over the weekend and was last seen early Saturday morning driving on Beeman Street in Canandaigua, according to Canandaigua police.

The damaged SUV, a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, was removed from the canal Wednesday morning, O'Donnell said.

Troopers and Canandaigua officers continue to search the area near the canal on Wednesday. Authorities are utilizing K-9 teams and the State Police helicopter as they search.

Police said Zello has blonde hair and green eyes. She stands about 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds, police said. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and boots.

Canandaigua police are asking anyone with information about Zello's whereabouts to call the department at (585) 394-4560.