SANFORD — Police say there appears to be no foul play involved in the death of a woman whose body was found Wednesday evening in the Mousam River just south of the Emery Street Bridge.

Police and rescue workers were called to the area of the bridge around 6 p.m. after a passerby reported seeing a body in the water.

Police identified the woman as Lorilie Payeur, 50, of Sanford.

Sanford Police Detective Eric Small said Wednesday night at the scene that the woman’s remains would be taken to the Maine Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta for further examination on Thursday.

“It doesn’t appear to be suspicious,” said Small. “There are no obvious signs of foul play.”

Small said police don’t know how long the woman had been in the water.

Sanford City Councilor John Tuttle, who was at the scene, said he and his wife Ann were driving on Emery Street Wednesday evening when his wife saw a body in the river and told him to turn the car around.

When they arrived back at the bridge, several girls were there with cell phones, and he told them to call 911, Tuttle said.

The investigation is ongoing.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].