RPD confirms body found near Genesee River Gorge is missing Rochester woman reported days before Christmas

Rochester, New York – Rochester police have confirmed that a body found near the Genesee River Gorge has been identified as a missing woman whose disappearance days before Christmas sparked concern and heartbreak among her family and the community.

Carolyn “Danny” Siplin, 33, had been reported missing since December 23. Her mother, Tracey Riley, confirmed Sunday that police located her daughter’s body near the Smith Street bridge, close to brush and the gorge in the area of St. Paul Street. The Rochester Police Department later verified that the body discovered was Siplin’s.

According to RPD, officers found the body on Friday on the east side of the Genesee River Gorge near the intersection of St. Paul Street and Bausch Street. While the discovery was made days earlier, police said the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office officially confirmed the identity of the body as Siplin’s on Sunday.

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Investigators say there does not appear to be a criminal element involved in Siplin’s death. However, police emphasized that the circumstances surrounding what happened are still under investigation. Authorities are continuing to gather information to better understand the events leading up to the discovery.

Siplin’s disappearance had deeply worried her family, who held onto hope that she would be found safe. Riley described how her daughter was a constant presence in her daily life, including driving her to work every morning at 5 a.m. That routine came to a sudden and alarming stop on December 23.

Riley said she woke up that morning to find Siplin gone and immediately tried calling her. Siplin answered initially and explained why she had left.

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“She said, ‘Ma, I just wanted to see the snow, you know I love the snow. I just wanted to take a ride. She said, ‘I’m coming across the bridge, I’ll be there in a little while.’ She never came,” Riley said.

After that brief conversation, Riley said repeated phone calls went unanswered. About half an hour later, an officer with the Rochester Police Department answered Siplin’s phone. Police later confirmed that Siplin’s vehicle had been found running on the Upper Falls Bridge near St. Paul Street. The doors were closed, and her wallet was still inside the vehicle.

The discovery of the car intensified concern and led to search efforts in the surrounding area. Family members and police continued to look for answers as days passed with no sign of Siplin.

When the body was ultimately located near the gorge, the news confirmed the fears her family had been trying to hold back. Riley said the location where police found her daughter was not far from where the vehicle had been discovered, reinforcing how close Siplin was to home when she disappeared.

Police have not released details about the cause of death, pending the ongoing investigation. Officials reiterated that while no criminal activity is suspected at this time, all aspects of the case are being carefully reviewed.

RPD is asking anyone who may have information related to Siplin’s movements or the events surrounding her disappearance to come forward. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 911.

As the investigation continues, Siplin’s family is left mourning the loss of a loved one remembered for her warmth and routines that tied her closely to those around her. The case has left a lasting impact on those who followed the search and hoped for a different outcome.