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Woman With Alzheimer's Found Dead

News Channel 8 photo by KATY HENNIG

Police investigate at the scene.

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By JEANIENE HARLOW | News Channel 8
and RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 18, 2008

Updated: 05/18/2008 07:41 pm

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• Body Found

Mary Cashwell

TAMPA - An 83-year-old woman with Alzheimer's wandered from her South Tampa home today and was found dead in her neighbor's vehicle, police said.

Mary Cashwell entered the passenger side of the unlocked Toyota 4Runner next door to her house at 213 S. Woodlynne Ave. and investigators think she succumbed to the heat, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

The SUV had dark tinted windows, which prevented three squads and a bloodhound unit from seeing and finding Cashwell, Davis said.

Police searched the surrounding area for more than three hours. Officers were distraught when they found Cashwell, Davis said.

"We were looking so hard for her, and she was right next door," Davis said.

Cashwell used spoons to jimmy the lock of her house while her caretaker was at church today, Davis said. It is unclear exactly how she unlocked the door, Davis said.

Her family, worried about the heat and her medical condition, called police to report her disappearance.

Cashwell was found in her neighbor's car about 6 p.m. An autopsy will be performed Monday to determine the cause of death.

News Channel 8 videographer Katy Hennig contributed to this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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