Body Found in River Likely 11-Year-Old Celina Cass; Stepfather Hospitalized

Police found a female body in the Connecticut River near a Stewartstown, N.H., hydroelectric plant, CNN reported. The Nashua Telegraph described the body as that of a young girl, saying the information came from the Essex County, Vt. prosecutor. The body was found in an area police have been searching for missing 11-year-old Celina Cass. Crime scene tape now surrounds the Cass home;according to WMUR, when officials put it up this afternoon, the family did not appear to be at home. The Manchester Union Leader said family and friends gathered at Cass' home erupted into screaming and crying when state police reported finding the body, an indication the body is suspected to be that of the missing girl.

Cass' mysterious disappearance has troubled West Stewartstown since it was first reported last Tuesday. There were no indications Cass would have run away and no signs of forced entry to her home. Her family reported seeing her on the computer in her room about 9 p.m. Monday, then discovering her missing Tuesday morning.

The New York Daily News reported Cass' stepfather Wendell Noyes was arrested for threatening an ex-girlfriend eight years ago and committed to a psychiatric hospital for treatment for schizophrenia. His criminal record includes criminal trespass, violating a protective order, criminal threatening and avoiding apprehension, the DisBrimstoneDailyPitchfork blog reported.

Noyes was rushed to a hospital today for emergency treatment, and the same blogger said Noyes was seen repeatedly lying face down and rolling around on the family driveway before being taken away in an ambulance today.

The body was found a quarter mile from Cass' home. An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon and the New Hampshire Office of the Attorney General expects to release further information later today.