AUGUSTA — The state medical examiner has identified the body of a woman pulled from the Kennebec River on Friday as that of Kelly Voytasko, 54, of Augusta, who was last seen disappearing under the river ice in late March.

An autopsy was performed on Saturday at the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Augusta. The cause of death was ruled a drowning and the manner of death a suicide, according to Mark Belserene, office administrator.

He said Voytasko’s identity was confirmed Monday morning with the use of dental records.

Until Monday, Voytasko had been listed as a missing person.

However, it was clear not long after her disappearance that she was the woman whom people had seen walking around on the ice on the partially frozen river on March 21 just north of the Calumet bridge, as residents of Kennebec Plaza, a residence for the elderly behind the Inn at City Hall, watched.

Witnesses who called emergency responders said she appeared to be talking on a cellphone and then deliberately placed it or something on the ice before stepping or jumping into open water and disappearing under the ice. Police said she appeared to have jumped into the river intentionally and spurned rescue attempts. Police later said they recovered an item left on the ice, but it was not a cellphone.

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Voytasko’s family reported her missing shortly afterward. Rescue crews spent some time looking for the body, but were forced to suspend the search because of hazardous conditions on the river.

Voytasko’s husband, Anthony, said his wife had been in a deep depression and had previously made suicidal threats.

On Friday, two Maine Marine Patrol Officers recovered a woman’s body around 1 p.m. after it was seen floating about 20 yards from shore near the Pittston side of the river across from Westerlunds Landing in South Gardiner.

Belserene said Monday the body would be released to her family.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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