Missing Lower Merion woman Nadine Beech, 84, found dead: police

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The body of an elderly woman has been found after police say she went missing in Lower Merion Township this week. 

Nadine Beech, 84, was last seen around 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Waverly Heights retirement community in Gladwyne wearing all white with a blue denim hat.

Sources tell FOX 29 her body was found Tuesday afternoon along Garden Lane in Bryn Mawr, Lower Merion, where police had a portion of the road blocked off until just before 6 p.m.

"The staff initiated the search when she wasn't at lunch because she was there in the morning for her medications," said Waverly Heights CEO Tom Garvin who spoke earlier in the day alongside police and says security cameras showed Beech walking the property until 10:15 that morning. 

Police say she was spotted an hour or so later on Morris Road in Bryn Mawr.

"She was last seen in the 700 block when contacted by a housekeeper at the residence there and indicated that she was a bit confused and trying to walk home, but she denied help or offers of assistance," said Sgt. Keenan. 

Police say family members previously told them she was stubborn and resistant to people she didn't know. Beech was also new to the area.

"She came to the community June 29th. She was admitted as a personal care resident in our community. She was free to come and go. She was assessed on admission and with information provided by the family there was no risk of this type of behavior," said Garvin.

MORE HEADLINES:

• Family of teen killed in Fourth of July mass shooting speaks out: 'He didn't deserve that'
• 1 of 2 teens who escaped PA youth detention center found in Bucks County: police
• 21 people, including 8 children, displaced after multi-family house fire in Allentown

Residents in Lower Merion, Narberth, Haverford Township, Radnor Township, West Conshocken, and Conshohocken were urged to check porches, garages, sheds and other structures in effort to find her.

Surrounding police departments and hospitals were also notified, according to authorities.

"The weather conditions are apparent and certainly not improving and she's an 84-year-old woman who needs to be located," said Sergeant Michael Keenan with Lower Merion Police. He spoke Tuesday evening during a news conference nearly three hours before the search for Nadine Beech came to a tragic end.

The Waverly Heights President and CEO released the following statement in response to Mrs. Beech’s passing:

"We are deeply saddened by Mrs. Beech’s passing and extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family. We are also profoundly grateful for the tremendous efforts of our employees, local and state law enforcement, the Montgomery County Search and Rescue Management team, drone and helicopter deployments, and individuals in the community who participated in this extensive search. Waverly Heights has never experienced a loss like this. While we regularly train our staff for such an event, we can never fully be prepared for the emotional impact that such an occurrence has on our community. The safety and security of our residents remains – and will always be – our highest priority."

Police say the weather also made it difficult to get a heat signature on Beech while using thermal imaging during the search.