KENNEBUNK – The body of a New York woman was found near the bottom of a steep embankment, said Maine State Police, who don’t suspect foul play was involved in her death.

The woman was identified early this afternoon as Susan Danis, 53. Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said authorities don’t yet have a hometown for Danis in New York, but he said she grew up in Kennebunk and stayed often with her mother, who lives there.

McCausland said it appears that Danis either fell or slid down the embankment off Erica Lane, which is off Route 99. He said that Danis had some underlying medical conditions – which he declined to specify – that may have played a role, and it appears that hypothermia might also have been involved in her death.

Danis’ SUV was found parked nearby, he added, and her mother told police she had been missing since last night.

McCausland said that authorities will wait on the results of the autopsy, scheduled for Wednesday, to help determine if Danis’ death was accidental.


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