Police find body of missing Uruguayan woman, 72

Edith Gus

TORONTO — Toronto Police believe they have located the body of a Jewish senior from Uruguay who was reported missing by her family earlier this week.

Police said the body was found around 1 p.m. Wednesday on a river bank near a reservoir and that the woman may have fallen down into a valley-like area.

"There’s no information to suggest foul play,” said Const. Wendy Drummond, speaking to the media at a news conference Wednesday, noting that an autopsy still has to be completed to confirm identity and confirm cause of death.

Earlier in the day, they had set up a command post at Esther Shiner Stadium to search for Edith – pronounced “Edit” – Gus Peltinovich, 72, who was last seen on Oct. 28, at 1 p.m., walking toward G. Ross Lord Park, off Finch Avenue West, between Dufferin and Bathurst streets.

The park contains a large water reservoir.

She was described as white, five feet tall, thin with a medium build, brown hair and walks leaning to the right. She was last seen wearing a bright-red jacket, brown large-framed sunglasses, brown pants and brown shoes. Police said the description of her clothing suggests the body found Wednesday is Gus.

Gus had been in Canada since early October visiting family who live just off Finch Avenue between Dufferin and Bathurst. She was reportedly bipolar, and her family was also concerned because she didn't speak English, only Spanish and Yiddish.

Police said she wasn't familiar with Toronto or the TTC, but she had been enjoying walks to local parks during her stay.

The search involved officers on foot and horseback, as well as the marine unit and a helicopter.