Autopsy confirms body found in car is missing Atkins woman

The State Medical Examiner's Office said today that the body pulled from the Cedar River last Thursday is that of missing Atkins woman Nancy Collins.

Many suspected that it was Collins after crews recovered the body of a woman from a vehicle registered to her, submerged in the river near Palo. The medical examiner was asked to make a positive identification.

The cause and manner of Collins' death remains under investigation.

Collins, 66, disappeared back on March 14. That same night, a passerby called 911 reporting a car had veered off Blairs Ferry Road and into the river.

The car was located about 230 yards south of the Blairs Ferry Road bridge and less than 20 yards from the east shore.

Previous attempts to get to the vehicle were thwarted by high spring river levels.

PREVIOUS STORIES:

• April 1: Body found in car pulled from Cedar River
• March 28 -- Authorities locate car in Cedar River near Palo
• March 22 -- Deputies still investigating missing Atkins woman
• March 17 -- High water delays search for car in river
• March 16 -- Crews must wait to investigate reports of car in river