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Autopsy Indicates Clarence Homicide Victim Was Strangled

By Eileen Buckley

Buffalo, NY – There are more questions than answers surrounding the murder of a 45-year-old Clarence woman. The body of Joan Diver was found Sunday after she disappeared Friday morning while jogging. The Erie County Sheriff's Department reported Tuesday morning that Diver died of strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.

The body of Diver was discovered in a wooded area off the Clarence-Newstead bike path. The mother of four was first reported missing early Friday afternoon. Her husband, Dr. Steven Diver contacted authorities when she failed to pick up their youngest child from daycare.

The Erie County Sheriff's Department immediately began an intensive search that extended into Saturday. But by Sunday, the department's search appeared to be over. That's when volunteers formed their own search and discovered Diver's body. Erie County Undersheriff Richard Donovan says she was found in the same area that the Sheriff's department searched.

Donovan says at this point they don't have any suspects. He says while Diver's husband is not considered a suspect, no one has been ruled out just yet.

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