With the aid of a dog, search teams found the body of Joan L. Taitano yesterday morning at the bottom of a cliffline near the radar building in Marpi.<\/p>\n
Acting police spokesman Jason Tarkong confirmed later in the afternoon yesterday that the body was indeed that of the 37-year-old Taitano, who has been missing since Thursday.<\/p>\n
It is not clear yet whether investigators found foul play or not. Tarkong did not provide more details. <\/p>\n
In a press briefing at the radar building area yesterday morning, Tarkong said that crime scene technicians have processed Taitano\u2019s white 2016 Toyota Yaris to check for evidence. <\/p>\n
Police recovered the vehicle near the radar building on Monday after lunch. The car was locked when a patrol unit found the vehicle parked on the pavement by the radar building, sources said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, a dog from the K-9 unit was brought in. From the car the dog allegedly \u201clost\u201d the scent at the top of the Marpi cliff, Tarkong said. <\/p>\n
As it was getting dark, the search teams\u2014composed of the Department of Public Safety, Customs, and Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services\u2014suspended the search on Monday, then resumed yesterday morning.<\/p>\n
Tarkong said that at 9:25am yesterday, the teams called DPS that they have recovered a female body about 200 feet at the bottom of the cliff.<\/p>\n
Tarkong said he could not tell yet whether the body was in a state of decomposition or not as investigators at the time were still checking the body and processing the scene.<\/p>\n
He said family members have been notified about the body. <\/p>\n
The uncle of Taitano and some family friends joined the search at the radar building area yesterday morning until being informed about the body being found.<\/p>\n
Tarkong said there is a trail going down to the cliff\u2019s bottom.<\/p>\n
He said arrangement has been made for witnesses to identify the body.<\/p>\n
A relative told police on Sunday that Taitano was last seen Thursday night at her house in Dandan. <\/p>\n
Taitano chaired the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Program advisory council and was vice chair of the State Behavioral Health Council. She also served as a board member of the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc. She worked briefly as a Saipan Tribune reporter. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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