February 10, 2005
WNBC-TV
MSNBC
TOTOWAN.J. - The body of a woman who disappeared while working at water treatment plant was found inside a tank there Wednesday night, but authorities have not determined whether she was a victim of foul play or died accidentally.
Slideshow: Missing N.J. Chemist Found Dead In Water Tank Geetha Angara, 43, of Holmdel, was last seen Tuesday night doing water quality tests at the Passaic Valley Water Commission plant in Totowa.
Searchers then spent several hours looking for Angara. Her body was found about 100 feet from where she had been seen working.
Passaic County Prosecutor Thomas Avigliano said the case was being investigated as a homicide, largely because a protective grate over the tank made it appear unlikely she could have fallen in.
Investigators did find that a section of the grate had been pulled away, creating enough space for a person to fall through. However, it was unclear whether the grate had been moved by police and dive teams who were the first to respond to the scene Tuesday night or had been pulled away before Angara fell in.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine whether there is evidence of trauma on the body, authorities said.
Angara's car and belongings were found where they were left Tuesday on the grounds of the plant.
A senior chemist with a doctorate from New York University and the mother of three, she had worked at the plant for nearly 12 years.
To aid the search, officials drained millions of gallons of water from the 30-foot-deep tanks at the plant, which processes 75 million gallons of drinking water each day.
The water commission's 800,000 customers did not have their service interrupted. Water was provided from alternate sources while the search was conducted.
While tests showed no signs of contamination, customers were being advised to boil their water for three minutes before cooking or drinking as a precaution.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6942950