AMHERST, N.Y. (WKBW) — Amherst police announced that the body of Leah Bellitto, missing since Saturday night, was found Tuesday morning in a creek off Dodge Road.
Police said a citizen found her as volunteers and law enforcement were conducting a grid search around Got Creek and Ransom Creek.
Dodge Road in East Amherst is closed with heavy police presence in the area. pic.twitter.com/HssBoE9x7W
— Maki Becker (@makibecker) February 11, 2025
They said the death is under investigation but at this point, they don’t suspect foul play.
Trisha Tower, who lives on Dodge Road, watched as police wrapped up their search off Dodge Road.
“It's just devastating,” she told me. “It's been so cold and however it happened, maybe going for a walk and just getting disoriented and just been freezing out here and it's just incredibly sad.”
Dozens of volunteers organized by the WNY Missing & Unidentified Persons Network had been searching for Bellitto.
On Tuesday morning, as news spread about the missing woman, about 50 people showed up to volunteer. But soon after they started, police told them that the search was being suspended.
Among those who showed up to volunteer was Alesha Conte.
“Me and my husband and our kids…we live in Amherst and you know it hits you and it hits home when you when you see this happening in your community," Conte said. "And everybody needs help there can't be enough help...with something like this.”
Daniel Girzone, a Swormville volunteer firefighter, also participated in the search.
“I just knew it was something that I had to do and so that's why I wanted to be a part of it," said Girzone.
Tom Chiaramonte, who lives on Dodge Road, shared that on Sunday afternoon he found a small flower-print backpack on a trail deep inside his property.
He thought nothing of it until a neighbor reached out to him during the Super Bowl and told him there was a missing woman. The description included that of a similar backpack. He called police and they came to investigate, bringing multiple squad cars and K-9 teams.
He and his son have been searching around the creek since. He learned Tuesday morning about the sad discovery.
“But they found her at the creek right up here on Dodge Road…Unfortunate for the family. Very, very sad for the family," he said.
Anyone with information in connection to the case is asked to contact police at (716) 689-1311.
"We extend our gratitude to the members of the public who have already assisted, as well as our law enforcement and emergency service partners for their support in this investigation.
The family of Ms. Bellitto is asking for privacy and there is no further information available at this time."
