A 30-year-old Massachusetts woman who went missing while walking her dog on Christmas Eve was found dead in Wenham Lake at the J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve in Beverly, Massachusetts, authorities confirmed. The 165-acre nature preserve, located on the border of Beverly and Wenham, features multiple hiking trails surrounding the 250-acre Wenham Lake, which serves as a drinking water reservoir for Salem and Beverly.
Owen Kasozi of Danvers, Massachusetts was last seen entering the nature preserve with her rescue dog, Boca, at approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Boca, a mixed-breed dog whom Kasozi had adopted six months earlier from a local shelter, was later found wet and alone in nearby Topsfield that evening, prompting an extensive search operation.
The Essex County District Attorney’s Office reported that Kasozi’s body was discovered in the frozen lake on Christmas Day. With temperatures hovering around 28 degrees Fahrenheit on Christmas Eve, investigators believe she fell through thin ice, possibly chasing her dog, and was unable to extricate herself.
“On behalf of the Beverly Police Department, I would like to pass along our sincere condolences to the family of Owen Kasozi,” Beverly Police Chief John G. LeLacheur said in a statement. “I would also like to thank all the first responders for being able to give the family some degree of closure in the wake of this difficult search process.”
Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker stated that no foul play is suspected in Kasozi’s death. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
The search operation, which began at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve when Kasozi’s family reported her missing, involved more than 50 first responders from Beverly Police, Massachusetts State Police, Environmental Police, and local fire departments. Search teams utilized thermal imaging equipment and underwater cameras during the 18-hour operation.
Kasozi’s sister, Susan, described her as a vibrant and outgoing person with a special bond with her rescue dog Boca. According to family members, Kasozi likely decided to help her dog when she saw it in danger.
“Her passion for life was infectious, and she had the unique ability to make those around her feel valued and loved,” her family said on their GoFundMe page. “She cherished her family and friends deeply; her absence will be felt profoundly in our lives.” The fundraising effort has generated over $22,000.
Local firefighters noted that ice needs to be at least four inches thick to safely support a person’s weight, which requires several consecutive days of temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They added that in water temperatures around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a person can become incapacitated within two to seven minutes and survive no more than 30 minutes.
