Accomack County, VA - On March 24, 2024, the Accomack County Sheriff's Office reported the discovery of a deceased woman near a private dock on Revell Lane, Melfa, Virginia. 

The emergency call received at approximately 1:46 p.m. directed deputies to the site, where they found an unresponsive female by the shoreline. 

The individual, later identified as Gretchen P. Ayres, 95, of Onancock, Virginia, was pronounced dead by EMS personnel present at the scene. 

The body has since been sent to the Norfolk Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy to establish the cause of death definitively. 

Preliminary findings from the investigation point towards an accident as the cause of the unfortunate incident.

In the wake of the incident, the Accomack County Sheriff's Office received assistance from several local bodies, including the Virginia Marine Resource Commission, Onancock Volunteer Fire Department, and the Accomack County Department of Public Safety. 

Sheriff Todd Wessells has asked community members about this incident or any other crime. The ongoing investigation welcomes helpful public input, which can be submitted through the official website at accomackcountysheriffsoffice.org or by contacting the Accomack County Sheriff's Office at (757) 787-1131 or (757) 824-5666.

Wessells has expressed his appreciation for the community's support during this time and urges anyone with information regarding Ms. Ayres or the events leading up to her accidental death to come forward. 

Your assistance could play a crucial role in this ongoing investigation and could help provide much-needed closure for Gretchen P. Ayres' loved ones.