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BCA: Missing 83-Year-Old Melrose Woman Found Dead

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The search for a missing 83-year-old woman in central Minnesota is canceled after her body was found in the snow early Friday evening, officials say.

Police in Melrose, Minn., had asked the public to help find Clara Pundsack after she went missing Thursday afternoon.

On Friday night, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced that Pundsack was found dead not far from Melrose.

She was last seen leaving her home in her minivan. Police say it looks like her van got stuck in a snow bank near a farm, and she'd gotten out to find help.

The owner of the farm found Pundsack about 200 feet from her minivan near an out building at around 5:30 p.m. 

Her cause of death is not yet known. An autopsy will be performed by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office.

Pundsack's family said she had a history of dementia, police say. 

Foul play is not suspected. 

Melrose is about 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

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