Rangers received a report of a body at the Longstreet Observation Tower on West Confederate Avenue just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10th. Visitors at the top of the tower had spotted the body next to a stone wall near its base and notified authorities. Initial indications were that the middle-aged woman had either fallen or jumped from the 76-foot-high observation deck and landed on the wall and that she’d not been there very long. The area was closed while an investigation was conducted. Evidence indicated that a vehicle found in the tower parking lot had been driven there by the woman. A purse, cell phone and suicide note were seen on the front seat. Since her death was not witnessed, rangers decided to obtain a search warrant before entering the vehicle in case she proved to have been the victim of a crime. The investigation revealed that the woman had been a resident of Gettysburg, but was currently living with her family in Annapolis, Maryland. She’d left her house early that morning, saying that she was going on a long-distance run with friends. Family members said that she’d been having medical problems and had previously attempted suicide. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Harrisburg Office of the FBI, Cumberland Township PD, the Adams County coroner’s office and Anne Arundel PD.
