The body of an Indian-American doctor, missing for over a month, has been recovered from inside a car pulled out from an estuary off a boat ramp at Alameda near San Jose.
The police on Wednesday confirmed that the body was that of 55-year-old paediatrician Zehra Attari, missing since November 7, after she left her Oakland office, presumably to attend a medical conference.
Police divers began searching the area after a tip on Sunday from a woman who reported seeing her that day. The tipster said she had seen Attari driving in Alameda as if she were lost.
On Tuesday night, police divers found her 2001 Grey Honda Accord buried deep in the estuary's muddy bottom about 30 to 50 feet off the end of the boat ramp.
Though the police have not ruled out foul play, friends and relatives believe it might have been an accident.
San Jose community activist and family friend Annie Dandavati said that the road ends in an incline, which Attari may have thought was a ramp to a bridge. She said there was no way of knowing the road led directly into the estuary.
"I think it's shameful that there is no barrier," said Ruby Ali, one of Attari's children.
The victim's family had offered a reward of $20,000 for information leading to her safe return.
A spokesperson for the Alameda County Coroners office said the coroner was awaiting lab reports to determine the cause of death.
