Several police departments roped off two homes with caution tape this morning. The death investigation is focused in the alleyway behind Pleasant Valley Boulevard between Sheridan and East Streets.
Human remains were found near a condemned home. The Blair County Coroner said this is a criminal investigation. Police spent much of the day collecting evidence from the scene but they would not release any information.
People who live along this street described it as a quiet neighborhood. We spoke to one man who says he got some information from people who saw the body.
“From what I was told they found it was definitely a female. They said they saw long hair and face was decayed. Body had to been there a while,” said Adam Corle.
Altoona Police would not confirm any of this information.
News of the grim discovery drew a crowd to that neighborhood and also stirred speculation on Facebook.
Catherine Copley has been missing since December 10, 2015. She was last seen getting into a car with an unknown driver. That alleged incident took place less than one mile from this home.
WTAJ spoke to relatives of the 29-year-old woman. They came to the scene hoping to get more information, but they left without any answers.
They told us Copley would not desert her children and are convinced someone did something to her.
Just after 7:00 p.m. the Altoona Police Department released this statement on their Facebook page.
On June 8th, 2016 at approximately 10:30 AM the Altoona Police Department was summoned to East 400 block of Pleasant Valley Blvd for a report of a dead body located in the garage of an abandoned residence. After securing the scene The Blair County Coroner’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Blair County District Attorney’s Office assisted in processing the scene. At this extremely early point in the investigation it would be premature to speculate anything relating to cause and manner of death, the identity or sex of the deceased or if there is any connection with this incident to any other active investigations by this department. At this point an autopsy is scheduled for June 9th, 2016. No additional information will be available until the Autopsy is complete and a thorough review of the evidence has taken place. The Altoona Police Department would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the Blair County District Attorney’s Office, The PA State Police and the Blair County Coroner’s officer for their continued support and assistance in this investigation. We would also like to thank the various media outlets for their continued understanding relating to our inability to release specifics of the case at this early point in the investigation.
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