Former Kennedy relative found dead (In Submerged Car)

AP | 3/17/04

[kattracks]

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The body of a local socialite once related by marriage to the Kennedy family was found in a sunken car, authorities said.

Police do not suspect foul play in the death of 65-year-old Hope Sheridan, who was last seen March 8. Family members in Windham, N.Y., reported her missing on March 11.

Sheridan is the ex-mother-in-law of Michael Skakel, a cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Skakel, 42, is serving 20 years to life in prison for the beating death of his Greenwich, Conn., neighbor, Martha Moxley, in 1975.

Divers found Sheridan's car Monday afternoon after a sheriff's helicopter noted two faint parallel marks at the end of a retention pond.

The car was submerged in about 15 feet of water 75 feet from shore. Sheridan's body was found on the passenger side, Detective Keith Harmon said. He said there were no skid marks on the grassy area going into the water.

"It appears from the preliminary findings that this was an accidental death," said Indian River County sheriff's spokesman Joe Flescher said.

Investigators were awaiting the results of a medical examiner's toxicology tests.

[thegreatbeast]

Could alcohol been involved?

[goldstategop]

Shades Of Chappaquidic!

[SLB]

Where was Teddy the night of March 8th?

[Nik Naym]

It would be in poor taste to ask if the car was an Oldsmobile.

So I won't.

Nik

[leadpenny]

Beyond freaky!

[kcvl]

Sea Oaks resident Hope Sheridan, missing for several days, was found dead Monday after her white convertible was discovered in a retention pond in the barrier island community.

Indian River County sheriff's deputies had been searching for Sheridan, 65, when a sheriff's helicopter spotted tire tracks leading into the pond and what appeared to be a vehicle around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to Detective Joseph Flescher, a spokesman for the department.

There was no sign of foul play and Flescher said officials will rely on the Treasure Coast Medical Examiner's report to determine the cause and time of death.

Flescher said the tracks were not readily visible from ground level. The depth and murkiness of the 15-foot-deep pond evidently prevented residents in nearby condominium buildings from spotting the vehicle earlier, he added.

When Indian River County Fire Department divers arrived at the pond, they found the vehicle, a white Mazda Miata, with Sheridan inside, resting in the deep part of the pond. Evidence technicians were scouring the convertible Monday afternoon as it sat next to the pond, located just inside the back fence of the gated community. By 6 p.m., the vehicle was towed from the scene.

Sheridan was last seen 10 p.m. March 10 at a social gathering in a Sea Oaks residence, Flescher said.

Out-of-state family members contacted the Sheriff's Department Thursday to report that she was missing.

[visualops]

She was on the passenger side yet it was "accidental"?

[Jaxter]

"..65-year-old Hope Sheridan.."

Isn't that about how old Mary Jo would be if she wasn't killed by Ted?

[bondjamesbond]

Sheridan's body was found on the passenger side, Detective Keith Harmon said...

Was she belted in?

In Teddy's defense, I don't think he could fit into a Mazda Miata.

[paddles]

I feel sorry for the old gal.

Having said that...this kind of thing is getting to be about as much of a Kennedy family tradition as Summers in Hyannisport.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The body of a local socialite once related by marriage to the Kennedy family was found in a sunken car, authorities said.

Once related, always related!

[Jimmy Valentine]

By the bones! The Kennedy's are a cursed people and anyone that gets near them is sure to have the worst if not fatal luck!

Regards,

[visualops]

Yeah no info as to why she was on the passenger side- or even if they assume she was the driver. No skid marks is very odd, although don't know much else about the scene.

[fhayek]

I think you'd be better off marrying into Tony Soprano's family than into the Kennedy's.

[nmh]

Did ole drunken Teddy have the hots for her?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Just being connected to the Kennedys means that no matter how you die, it's natural causes.

[Gillmeister]

bump

I demand an investigation as to where the fatso Teddy was on that night!

[arasina]

Perhaps the Kennedys should change their surname to Sunkendrunken.

[TaxRelief]

Sheridan's body was found on the passenger side

Oh, come on! Someone's pulling our legs. :-D