Woman's body found in river at Anamosa

 The body of a woman was recovered from the Wapsipinicon River in Anamosa  Friday night more than a mile downstream from where her car was found overturned in the water.

Two anglers fishing in Wapsipinicon State Park found the overturned car and alerted officials just before 1:30 p.m. Friday. The car was in 4 to 5 feet of water with one door open when authorities arrived.

Officials then began looking for the woman - identified late last night as Nicole Cox, an elementary guidance counselor with the Anamosa Community School District - and found her body about 6 p.m.

Emergency crews used a boat with a dragging apparatus to comb the bottom of the river for several hours before the body was found.

Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver said Cox's husband, co-workers, and friends were on the scene of the crash. They wept and hugged as officials continued to update them on the situation.

Cox's death was announced late last night on the school district's website. Counselors will be available at West Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Officials pulled her car from the river about three hours after they found her body. Weeds dangled from a wheel well and the front windshield had folded back completely.

More than a dozen emergency vehicles dotted the scene, surrounding the area of the river in which the car sat.

Graver said officers from the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were present, attempting to determine how Cox's car ended up  overturned in the water.

Graver also said an autopsy will be performed but he did not suspect foul play.

Officials expect to release more information Saturday.