Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Police Say Woman Fell Victim to Hurricane

Community rallies to support Edith Wright's two daughters; Benefit being planned for Wednesday night.

LONG ISLAND, NY -- The woman whose body washed up on a local beach on Tuesday morning, after the storm, was a victim of Hurricane Sandy.

She has been identified as Edith Wright, 52, of Montauk, police say.

East Hampton Town Police Detective Lt. Chris Anderson confirmed on Wednesday that Wright's family reported her missing on Monday night at 9:17 p.m., just after some of the worst weather Hurricane Sandy brought to the South Fork.

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"There was no sign of her," Anderson said.

Wright, known as Dee to friends, is survived by two daughters, Kiah, 23, and Laini, 18. Her husband passed away several years ago, according to family friends. She was a longtime waitress at The Dock and a teacher's aide at the Montauk School.

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East Hampton Village Police Chief Jerry Larsen, whose jurisdiction Wright's body was found in, said on Wednesday morning that his department has concluded its investigation: "It's appears she was the victim of the hurricane," he said, adding that police believe she walked her dog along the ocean.

The current was moving east to west during the storm. A passer-by discovered her body on Georgica Beach on Tuesday morning at around 7:30 a.m.

Word quickly spread throughout town that it was Wright, whom friends said went missing after she left her family's house near the Montauk Community Church.

A benefit is being planned for Wright's daughters on Wednesday night at the 668 Gig Shack in Montauk, according to Sofia Marques-Stipanov, who is helping to provide food from her husband's family restaurant Felice's Ristorante and Astro Pizza in Amagansett. Details are still being prepared, but the benefit will begin at 7 p.m.

"She is like family to us and we are all hurting," Marques-Stipanov said.

Montauk School Principal Jack Perna said the entire community is mourning the loss. "Dee Wright had two beautiful, lovely, and devoted daughters. She was a very valuable employee...always ready to do whatever the school needed. She will be missed."

He added, "Her daughters have a supportive circle of good friends, but will need the support of our wonderful community over the next several weeks and months."

Please join us at Patch in offering our condolences to Dee Wright's family and friends. We are so sorry for your terrible loss. If you would like to add photos of Ms. Wright, please feel free to hit the 'add photos' button.


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