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Body found under bridge identified as missing East Boston woman, DA says
A body found under an East Boston bridge Saturday has been confirmed to be that of a 61-year-old woman who went missing Dec. 13.
A body found in the water under the Andrew McArdle bridge in East Boston on Saturday has been identified as an East Boston woman who went missing more than a month ago, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.
There was no indication of any obvious signs of foul play, according to James Borghesani, a spokesperson for the DA.
Elba Portillo, 61, was last seen Dec. 13 around 9:30 a.m. in the area of Marion Street, Boston police said in a missing person alert. She never showed up to work that day and had gone missing in the past, according to the alert.
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Portillo reportedly suffered from insomnia and potentially early stages of dementia, police said.
“I wish the disappearance of Elba Portillo had a happier ending, and I convey my deepest sympathies to her family and friends,” Hayden said.
Portillo’s body was discovered after police and the Harbor Patrol Unit responded around 7:20 a.m. Saturday morning to a radio call reporting an object floating in the water under the bridge, police said.
Officers determined that the object was an adult woman’s body, and homicide detectives responded to the scene, according to police.
Natalie Umana, Portillo’s oldest daughter, created a GoFundMe page Sunday evening to help cover her mother’s funeral expenses.
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“This morning, BPD detectives confirmed that the body recovered from the water under the Chelsea bridge is in fact my mom,” Umana wrote. “The medical examiner is currently investigating the cause of death.”
As of Tuesday evening, the page has raised over $22,000.
Umana previously created a Facebook group for users to help with the search for her mother after she went missing. During the search, the group gained nearly 400 members.
On the GoFundMe page, Umana thanked those who supported her by resharing her posts, volunteering their time to search for her mother, and checking in on her family.
“Your unwavering support meant the world to us, and we will forever cherish the kindness you showed during this difficult time,” Umana wrote.
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