A woman from Massachusetts who disappeared while walking her dog on Christmas Eve has been found dead in a frozen lake. The 30-year-old Massachusetts woman, Owen Kasozi, was found at Wenham Lake, situated within the J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve in Beverly, Massachusetts, as confirmed by authorities.
The nature preserve, spanning 165 acres and nestled between Beverly and Wenham, is known for its multiple hiking trails surrounding the 250-acre Wenham Lake. This lake also serves as a drinking water reservoir for Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts. Owen Kasozi, a resident of Danvers, Massachusetts, was last spotted entering the nature preserve with her rescue dog, Boca, around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
Boca, a mixed-breed dog adopted by Kasozi six months prior from a local shelter, was found alone and drenched in nearby Topsfield that evening. This discovery triggered a wide-ranging search operation. The following day, Kasozi’s body was found in the frozen lake, as reported by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators suspect that Kasozi might have fallen through thin ice, potentially in an attempt to rescue her dog. With temperatures dropping to around 28 degrees Fahrenheit on Christmas Eve, it is believed that Kasozi was unable to free herself from the frozen lake. “On behalf of the Beverly Police Department, I would like to pass along our sincere condolences to the family of Owen Kasozi,” said Beverly Police Chief John G. LeLacheur 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.”
No foul play is suspected in Kasozi’s death, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker. The official cause of death is yet to be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The search operation for Kasozi, which started at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve after her family reported her missing, involved over 50 first responders from various organizations, including Beverly Police, Massachusetts State Police, Environmental Police, and local fire departments. The teams employed thermal imaging equipment and underwater cameras during the 18-hour search operation.
Described as a vibrant and outgoing person by her sister Susan, Kasozi had a special bond with her rescue dog Boca. Family members believe that Kasozi would have risked her own safety to help her dog when it was in danger. On their GoFundMe page, her family remembered her as someone who cherished her family and friends deeply and whose “passion for life was infectious, and she had the unique ability to make those around her feel valued and loved.” The fundraising campaign has so far raised over $22,000.
Local firefighters have warned that ice needs to be at least four inches thick to safely support a person’s weight, which typically requires several consecutive days of temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They also noted that in water temperatures around freezing, a person can become incapacitated within two to seven minutes and can survive no longer than 30 minutes.
