Body of missing elderly woman found in Socorro irrigation ditch, death probe underway

SOCORRO, Texas -- The body of a missing elderly woman was found in a Socorro neighborhood on Tuesday and her death was under investigation, authorities said.

El Paso County Sheriff's investigators said 89-year-old Martha Gandara Arrieta lived in the area and went missing from her home on the first day of the month. Police had issued a Silver Alert for her because she suffered from dementia.

Sheriff's deputies and Socorro police officers spent the afternoon pouring over the scene of the body discovery in the 10000 block of Ron Road and Bundala Drive. Law enforcement officials said Arrieta's body was located on private property in an irrigation ditch which runs between several residential areas.

There was no immediate word as to whether foul play was suspected in her death, however yellow police crime scene tape had the area cordoned off and authorities asked people to avoid the neighborhood.