Body Found in Hubbard Park Sunday is Bristol Woman

Hikers found the body of a Bristol woman at about 1 p.m. Sunday in Hubbard Park, on the White Trail, a hiking trail about 300 feet below Castle Craig, according to Meriden Police. 

She is identified as Brooke Joseph Banks, age 43 of Bristol, CT. Police believe she committed suicide by jumping from the mountain. They will determine cause of death following an autopsy, Police said. 

Meriden Police and Fire recovered Banks' body from the trail, and sent it to the Farmington coronor's office. 

Meriden Police began a search for Banks after an officer found her empty car in Hubbard Park at 9:10 p.m. Saturday, with her phone, iPod and purse still inside. Officers phoned the car's owner, Banks husband, who told them he did not know why she would be in the park.

Officers, including the city's K-9 unit, began a search of the mountain Saturday night, but high winds and rains caused police to call off the search overnight, according to police. They said they were in the process of planning a second attempt to locate Banks following the storm when the call came in.

Banks' husband, who had filed a missing persons report on his wife Saturday after officers told him they found her car, has been notified of her death.

Police say Banks left her home at 5 p.m. Saturday night, saying she was going out to get batteries.

Original story Sunday, 5:29 a.m.

Meriden Police believe that a Bristol woman is lost in Hubbard Park after finding her empty car – with purse, phone and iPod still inside – in the park at around 10 p.m. Saturday.

Police teams, including the city's K-9 unit, searched the area throughout the night but have been pulled from the scene because of inclement weather conditions at Hanging Hills in Meriden.

Acting Lt. Jeffrey Herget said at 4 a.m. Sunday that police will resume the search following the brunt of Hurricane Irene's effects on the city, if the woman is still missing.

"At this point we have not found her, we have no other leads – the storm’s going to make it difficult," Herget said. "We may have to bring in a bloodhound."

The woman reportedly left her Bristol home at 5 p.m., saying she was heading out to get batteries, Herget said.

Police found her car at the park, with her phone, iPod, and purse still in in it. After being contacted by police, the woman's husband met with police in Meriden. He has filed a missing person's report, Herget said.

Four-man teams searched trails leading to two different locations on Hanging Hills, Herget said, during the search, Castle Craig and the Radio Tower. The K-9 unit did not pick up a scent.

City officials said early Sunday morning that high winds and rains associated with the hurricane are expected to reach Meriden at about 11 a.m. - later than initial 6 a.m. predictions.