"While this is not entirely unexpected, we are absolutely brokenhearted," Diane Cooper's granddaughter wrote in a Facebook post
Credit: Alberta RCMP
NEED TO KNOW
- A Canadian grandmother was found dead on Saturday, April 18, nearly two weeks after she vanished with her dog
- Diane Cooper, 82, was reported missing to police on April 7, after she was last known to be driving her car in Hoosier, Saskatchewan on the night of April 6, officials previously said
- The woman’s death is not considered suspicious, and her Dalmatian, Halo, was found safe, according to local reports
A nearly two-week search for an 82-year-old woman who vanished with her dog has ended after she was found dead in rural Canada.
On Saturday, April 18, around 7:40 p.m. local time, Diane Cooper’s body was located in Grandview, Saskatchewan, not far from Kindersley, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Calgary Herald reported, citing Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Corporal Gina Slaney.
The woman’s death is not considered suspicious, according to the outlets and CTV News. Her dog, Halo, was found safe.
A spokesperson for the RCMP confirmed Diane's death to PEOPLE.
Credit: Alberta RCMP
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In a statement on social media, the elderly woman’s granddaughter, Zoe Cooper, announced the devastating news.
“Our grandma has unfortunately passed away,” Zoe wrote on a page dedicated to the search for the missing woman on Sunday, April, 19. “While this is not entirely unexpected, we are absolutely brokenhearted.”
Zoe added, “By some miracle, our dog Halo has survived.”
The search for the pair began earlier this month. Diane was last known to be in the village of Consort, Alberta, on Highway 12, on April 6, around 9:30 p.m., the RCMP said in an initial news alert. The next day, she was reported missing and believed to be in either the Alberta or Saskatchewan areas.
“There is a general concern for her well being,” police said of Diane, who was believed to be with her Dalmatian and driving a grey Toyota C-HR XLE.
In an April 13 update, officials announced that Diane was last seen traveling in her car in Hoosier, Saskatchewan, on April 6, at 10:51 p.m. They shared a photo of her driving near the hamlet.
“Consort RCMP continue the search for Diane Cooper. Multiple resources are being deployed, including numerous RCMP detachments patrolling the roadways, and RCMP Air Services in both Alberta and Saskatchewan,” police said at the time.
“We are so deeply grateful to everyone who helped search, shared posts, and showed us kindness and support during this incredibly difficult time,” Diane's granddaughter wrote on Sunday, adding, “It has meant more to us than we can express.”
Later that day, Zoe shared an update about Halo, who was “skinny and completely exhausted, but otherwise she seems to have come through this relatively unscathed.”
“We are heartbroken that the outcome wasn’t the same for Grandma, but we know her spirit was surrounded by so much care and compassion from all of you,” Zoe continued. “We are truly beyond grateful for that. It also brings some comfort knowing we did absolutely everything we could.”
She added, “We’re all hanging in there—grateful to finally have answers, and beginning the process of healing.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Zoe for a tribute.
Read the full article here
